1 Samuel 26:18-20
Easy-to-Read Version
18 Sir, why are you chasing me? What wrong have I done? What am I guilty of? 19 My lord the king, listen to me. If the Lord caused you to be angry with me, let him accept an offering. But if men caused you to be angry with me, I ask the Lord to curse them because they forced me to leave the land that the Lord gave me and told me to go serve other gods. 20 Now don’t make me die far away from the Lord’s presence. The king of Israel has come out looking for a flea. You are like a man hunting partridges in the mountains.”[a]
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 1 Samuel 26:20 hunting partridges in the mountains People hunted these birds until the birds became too tired to go on. Then they killed the birds. Saul was chasing David the same way. This is also a wordplay. The Hebrew word for “partridge” is like the word for “calling” in verse 14.
1 Samuel 26:18-20
New International Version
18 And he added, “Why is my lord pursuing his servant? What have I done, and what wrong(A) am I guilty of? 19 Now let my lord the king listen(B) to his servant’s words. If the Lord has incited you against me, then may he accept an offering.(C) If, however, people have done it, may they be cursed before the Lord! They have driven me today from my share in the Lord’s inheritance(D) and have said, ‘Go, serve other gods.’(E) 20 Now do not let my blood(F) fall to the ground far from the presence of the Lord. The king of Israel has come out to look for a flea(G)—as one hunts a partridge in the mountains.(H)”
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