1 Samuel 24:2-10
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 24
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.’
King James Version
Chapter 24
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.
Christian Standard Bible
Chapter 24
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.
New Living Translation
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.’
English Standard Version
Chapter 24
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.’
New International Version
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.'
