1 Samuel 24:9-18
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 24
9And David said to Saul, 'Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Behold, David is seeking to harm you’? 10Behold, this day your eyes have seen that the Lord had handed you over to me today in the cave, and someone said to kill you, but I spared you; and I said, ‘I will not reach out with my hand against my lord, because he is the Lord’S anointed.’ 11So, my father, look! Indeed, look at the edge of your robe in my hand! For by the fact that I cut off the edge of your robe but did not kill you, know and understand that there is no evil or rebellion in my hands, and I have not sinned against you, though you are lying in wait for my life, to take it. 12May the Lord judge between you and me, and may the Lord take vengeance on you for me; but my hand shall not be against you. 13As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘Out of the wicked comes wickedness’; but my hand shall not be against you. 14After whom has the king of Israel gone out? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog, a single flea? 15May the Lord therefore be judge and decide between you and me; and may He see and plead my cause and save me from your hand.'
16When David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, 'Is this your voice, my son David?' Then Saul raised his voice and wept.
17And he said to David, 'You are more righteous than I; for you have dealt well with me, while I have dealt maliciously with you.
18You have declared today that you have done good to me, that the Lord handed me over to you and yet you did not kill me.
King James Version
Chapter 24
9And David said to Saul, Wherefore hearest thou men's words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt? 10Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the Lord had delivered thee to day into mine hand in the cave: and some bade me kill thee: but mine eye spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he is the Lord'S anointed. 11Moreover, my father, see, yea, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand: for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe, and killed thee not, know thou and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in mine hand, and I have not sinned against thee; yet thou huntest my soul to take it. 12The Lord judge between me and thee, and the Lord avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee. 13As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked: but mine hand shall not be upon thee. 14After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea. 15The Lord therefore be judge, and judge between me and thee, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thine hand.
16And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.
17And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil.
18And thou hast shewed this day how that thou hast dealt well with me: forasmuch as when the Lord had delivered me into thine hand, thou killedst me not.
Christian Standard Bible
Chapter 24
9David said to Saul, "Why do you listen to the words of people who say, ‘Look, David intends to harm you’? 10You can see with your own eyes that the Lord handed you over to me today in the cave. Someone advised me to kill you, but I took pity on you and said: I won’t lift my hand against my lord, since he is the Lord’s anointed. 11Look, my father! Look at the corner of your robe in my hand, for I cut it off, but I didn’t kill you. Recognize that I’ve committed no crime or rebellion. I haven’t sinned against you even though you are hunting me down to take my life.
12"May the Lord judge between me and you, and may the Lord take vengeance on you for me, but my hand will never be against you.
13As the old proverb says, ‘Wickedness comes from wicked people.’ My hand will never be against you.
14Who has the king of Israel come after? What are you chasing after? A dead dog? A single flea?
15May the Lord be judge and decide between you and me. May he take notice and plead my case and deliver me from you."
16When David finished saying these things to him, Saul replied, "Is that your voice, David my son?" Then Saul wept aloud
17and said to David, "You are more righteous than I, for you have done what is good to me though I have done what is evil to you.
18You yourself have told me today what good you did for me: when the Lord handed me over to you, you didn’t kill me.
New Living Translation
Chapter 24
9Then he shouted to Saul, 'Why do you listen to the people who say I am trying to harm you? 10This very day you can see with your own eyes it isn’t true. For the Lord placed you at my mercy back there in the cave. Some of my men told me to kill you, but I spared you. For I said, ‘I will never harm the king — he is the Lord’s anointed one.’ 11Look, my father, at what I have in my hand. It is a piece of the hem of your robe! I cut it off, but I didn’t kill you. This proves that I am not trying to harm you and that I have not sinned against you, even though you have been hunting for me to kill me.
12May the Lord judge between us. Perhaps the Lord will punish you for what you are trying to do to me, but I will never harm you.
13As that old proverb says, ‘From evil people come evil deeds.’ So you can be sure I will never harm you.
14Who is the king of Israel trying to catch anyway? Should he spend his time chasing one who is as worthless as a dead dog or a single flea?
15May the Lord therefore judge which of us is right and punish the guilty one. He is my advocate, and he will rescue me from your power!'
16When David had finished speaking, Saul called back, 'Is that really you, my son David?' Then he began to cry.
17And he said to David, 'You are a better man than I am, for you have repaid me good for evil.
18Yes, you have been amazingly kind to me today, for when the Lord put me in a place where you could have killed me, you didn’t do it.
English Standard Version
Chapter 24
9And David said to Saul, "Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Behold, David seeks your harm’? 10Behold, this day your eyes have seen how the Lord gave you today into my hand in the cave. And some told me to kill you, but I spared you. I said, ‘I will not put out my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord 's anointed.’ 11See, my father, see the corner of your robe in my hand. For by the fact that I cut off the corner of your robe and did not kill you, you may know and see that there is no wrong or treason in my hands. I have not sinned against you, though you hunt my life to take it. 12May the Lord judge between me and you, may the Lord avenge me against you, but my hand shall not be against you. 13As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘Out of the wicked comes wickedness.’ But my hand shall not be against you. 14After whom has the king of Israel come out? After whom do you pursue? After a dead dog! After a flea! 15May the Lord therefore be judge and give sentence between me and you, and see to it and plead my cause and deliver me from your hand."
16As soon as David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, "Is this your voice, my son David?" And Saul lifted up his voice and wept.
17He said to David, "You are more righteous than I, for you have repaid me good, whereas I have repaid you evil.
18And you have declared this day how you have dealt well with me, in that you did not kill me when the Lord put me into your hands.
New International Version
Chapter 24
9He said to Saul, "Why do you listen when men say, ‘David is bent on harming you’? 10This day you have seen with your own eyes how the Lord delivered you into my hands in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you; I said, ‘I will not lay my hand on my lord, because he is the Lord’s anointed.’ 11See, my father, look at this piece of your robe in my hand! I cut off the corner of your robe but did not kill you. See that there is nothing in my hand to indicate that I am guilty of wrongdoing or rebellion. I have not wronged you, but you are hunting me down to take my life. 12May the Lord judge between you and me. And may the Lord avenge the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not touch you. 13As the old saying goes, ‘From evildoers come evil deeds,’ so my hand will not touch you.
14"Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Who are you pursuing? A dead dog? A flea?
15May the Lord be our judge and decide between us. May he consider my cause and uphold it; may he vindicate me by delivering me from your hand."
16When David finished saying this, Saul asked, "Is that your voice, David my son?" And he wept aloud.
17"You are more righteous than I," he said. "You have treated me well, but I have treated you badly.
18You have just now told me about the good you did to me; the Lord delivered me into your hands, but you did not kill me.
New King James Version
Chapter 24
9And David said to Saul: “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Indeed David seeks your harm’? 10Look, this day your eyes have seen that the Lord delivered you today into my hand in the cave, and someone urged me to kill you. But my eye spared you, and I said, ‘I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord’s anointed.’ 11Moreover, my father, see! Yes, see the corner of your robe in my hand! For in that I cut off the corner of your robe, and did not kill you, know and see that there is neither evil nor rebellion in my hand, and I have not sinned against you. Yet you hunt my life to take it. 12Let the Lord judge between you and me, and let the Lord avenge me on you. But my hand shall not be against you. 13As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘Wickedness proceeds from the wicked.’ But my hand shall not be against you. 14After whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom do you pursue? A dead dog? A flea? 15Therefore let the Lord be judge, and judge between you and me, and see and plead my case, and deliver me out of your hand.”
16So it was, when David had finished speaking these words to Saul, that Saul said, “ Is this your voice, my son David?” And Saul lifted up his voice and wept.
17Then he said to David: “You are more righteous than I; for you have rewarded me with good, whereas I have rewarded you with evil.
18And you have shown this day how you have dealt well with me; for when the Lord delivered me into your hand, you did not kill me.
