1 Samuel 24:14-22
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 24
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.
King James Version
Chapter 24
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.
Christian Standard Bible
Chapter 24
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
Chapter 24
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!'
English Standard Version
Chapter 24
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
Chapter 24
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.'