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1 Samuel chapter 24

English Standard Version

1When Saul returned from following the Philistines, he was told, “Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi.” 2Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel and went to seek David and his men in front of the Wildgoats’ Rocks. 3And he came to the sheepfolds by the way, where there was a cave, and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the innermost parts of the cave. 4And the men of David said to him, “Here is the day of which the LORD said to you, ‘Behold, I will give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you.’” Then David arose and stealthily cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. 5And afterward David’s heart struck him, because he had cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. 6He said to his men, “The LORD forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the LORD’s anointed, to put out my hand against him, seeing he is the LORD’s anointed.” 7So David persuaded his men with these words and did not permit them to attack Saul. And Saul rose up and left the cave and went on his way.
8Afterward David also arose and went out of the cave, and called after Saul, “My lord the king!” And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth and paid homage. 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. 19For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away safe? So may the LORD reward you with good for what you have done to me this day. 20And now, behold, I know that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand. 21Swear to me therefore by the LORD that you will not cut off my offspring after me, and that you will not destroy my name out of my father’s house.” 22And David swore this to Saul. Then Saul went home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.
New International Version

1After Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, 'David is in the Desert of En Gedi.' 2So Saul took three thousand able young men from all Israel and set out to look for David and his men near the Crags of the Wild Goats.
3He came to the sheep pens along the way; a cave was there, and Saul went in to relieve himself. David and his men were far back in the cave. 4The men said, 'This is the day the LORD spoke of when he said to you, 'I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish.'' Then David crept up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul's robe.
5Afterward, David was conscience-stricken for having cut off a corner of his robe. 6He said to his men, 'The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the LORD's anointed, or lay my hand on him; for he is the anointed of the LORD.' 7With these words David sharply rebuked his men and did not allow them to attack Saul. And Saul left the cave and went his way.
8Then David went out of the cave and called out to Saul, 'My lord the king!' When Saul looked behind him, David bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground. 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.
14Against 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. 17You 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. 19When a man finds his enemy, does he let him get away unharmed? May the LORD reward you well for the way you treated me today. 20I know that you will surely be king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hands. 21Now swear to me by the LORD that you will not kill off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father's family.'
22So David gave his oath to Saul. Then Saul returned home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.
New American Standard Bible

1Now when Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, it was reported to him, saying, 'Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi.' 2Then Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and went to search for David and his men in front of the Rocks of the Mountain Goats. 3And he came to the sheepfolds on the way, where there was a cave; and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the inner recesses of the cave. 4Then David’s men said to him, 'Behold, this is the day of which the Lord said to you, ‘Behold; I am about to hand your enemy over to you, and you shall do to him as it seems good to you.’?' Then David got up and cut off the edge of Saul’s robe secretly. 5But it came about afterward that David’s conscience bothered him because he had cut off the edge of Saul’s robe. 6So he said to his men, 'Far be it from me because of the Lord that I would do this thing to my lord, the Lord’S anointed, to reach out with my hand against him, since he is the Lord’S anointed.' 7And David rebuked his men with these words and did not allow them to rise up against Saul. And Saul got up, left the cave, and went on his way.
8Afterward, however, David got up and went out of the cave, and called after Saul, saying, 'My lord the king!' And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the ground and prostrated himself. 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. 19Though if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away unharmed? May the Lord therefore reward you with good in return for what you have done to me this day. 20Now, behold, I know that you will certainly be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand. 21So now swear to me by the Lord that you will not cut off my descendants after me, and that you will not eliminate my name from my father’s household.' 22And David swore an oath to Saul. Then Saul went to his home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.
Christian Standard Bible

1When Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, "David is in the wilderness near En-gedi." 2So Saul took three thousand of Israel's fit young men and went to look for David and his men in front of the Rocks of the Wild Goats. 3When Saul came to the sheep pens along the road, a cave was there, and he went in to relieve himself. David and his men were staying in the recesses of the cave, 4so they said to him, "Look, this is the day the Lord told you about: 'I will hand your enemy over to you so you can do to him whatever you desire.' " Then David got up and secretly cut off the corner of Saul's robe.
5Afterward, David's conscience bothered him because he had cut off the corner of Saul's robe. 6He said to his men, "As the Lord is my witness, I would never do such a thing to my lord, the Lord's anointed. I will never lift my hand against him, since he is the Lord's anointed."
7With these words David persuaded his men, and he did not let them rise up against Saul.Then Saul left the cave and went on his way. 8After that, David got up, went out of the cave, and called to Saul, "My lord the king! " When Saul looked behind him, David knelt low with his face to the ground and paid homage. 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. 19When a man finds his enemy, does he let him go unharmed? May the Lord repay you with good for what you've done for me today.
20"Now I know for certain you will be king, and the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand. 21Therefore swear to me by the Lord that you will not cut off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father's family." 22So David swore to Saul. Then Saul went back home, and David and his men went up to the stronghold.
New Living Translation

1After Saul returned from fighting the Philistines, he was told that David had gone into the wilderness of En-gedi. 2So Saul chose 3,000 elite troops from all Israel and went to search for David and his men near the rocks of the wild goats.
3At the place where the road passes some sheepfolds, Saul went into a cave to relieve himself. But as it happened, David and his men were hiding farther back in that very cave!
4Now’s your opportunity!' David’s men whispered to him. 'Today the Lord is telling you, ‘I will certainly put your enemy into your power, to do with as you wish.’' So David crept forward and cut off a piece of the hem of Saul’s robe.
5But then David’s conscience began bothering him because he had cut Saul’s robe. 6He said to his men, 'The Lord forbid that I should do this to my lord the king. I shouldn’t attack the Lord’s anointed one, for the Lord himself has chosen him.'
7So David restrained his men and did not let them kill Saul. After Saul had left the cave and gone on his way, 8David came out and shouted after him, 'My lord the king!' And when Saul looked around, David bowed low before him.
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. 19Who else would let his enemy get away when he had him in his power? May the Lord reward you well for the kindness you have shown me today. 20And now I realize that you are surely going to be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will flourish under your rule. 21Now swear to me by the Lord that when that happens you will not kill my family and destroy my line of descendants!'
22So David promised this to Saul with an oath. Then Saul went home, but David and his men went back to their stronghold.
King James Version

1And it came to pass, when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi. 2Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats. 3And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet: and David and his men remained in the sides of the cave. 4And the men of David said unto him, Behold the day of which the LORD said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe privily. 5And it came to pass afterward, that David's heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt. 6And he said unto his men, The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD'S anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD. 7So David stayed his servants with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. But Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way. 8David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, My lord the king. And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed himself.
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. 19For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away? wherefore the LORD reward thee good for that thou hast done unto me this day. 20And now, behold, I know well that thou shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thine hand. 21Swear now therefore unto me by the LORD, that thou wilt not cut off my seed after me, and that thou wilt not destroy my name out of my father's house. 22And David sware unto Saul. And Saul went home; but David and his men gat them up unto the hold.

What does 1 Samuel chapter 24 mean?

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