Passage Resources Hebrew/Greek Your Content
Previous Next
Add parallel Print Page Options
Close NLT

1 Samuel 24
New Living Translation

David Spares Saul’s Life

24 [a]After Saul returned from fighting the Philistines, he was told that David had gone into the wilderness of En-gedi. 2 So 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.

3 At 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!

4 “Now’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.

5 But then David’s conscience began bothering him because he had cut Saul’s robe. 6 He 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.” 7 So David restrained his men and did not let them kill Saul.

After Saul had left the cave and gone on his way, 8 David came out and shouted after him, “My lord the king!” And when Saul looked around, David bowed low before him.

9 Then he shouted to Saul, “Why do you listen to the people who say I am trying to harm you? 10 This 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.’ 11 Look, 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.

12 “May 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. 13 As that old proverb says, ‘From evil people come evil deeds.’ So you can be sure I will never harm you. 14 Who 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? 15 May 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!”

16 When David had finished speaking, Saul called back, “Is that really you, my son David?” Then he began to cry. 17 And he said to David, “You are a better man than I am, for you have repaid me good for evil. 18 Yes, 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. 19 Who 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. 20 And now I realize that you are surely going to be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will flourish under your rule. 21 Now swear to me by the Lord that when that happens you will not kill my family and destroy my line of descendants!”

22 So David promised this to Saul with an oath. Then Saul went home, but David and his men went back to their stronghold.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 24:1 Verses 24:1-22 are numbered 24:2-23 in Hebrew text.
Close ISV

1 Samuel 24
International Standard Version

David Spares Saul’s Life

24 [a]When Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told,[b] “Look, David is in the wilderness of En-gedi.” 2 Saul took 3,000 of his best troops[c] from all over Israel, and he went to look for David and his men in the direction of the Rocks of the Wild Goats. 3 He came to the sheepfolds beside the road. There was a cave there, and Saul went in to relieve himself.[d] Now David and his men were sitting in the inner recesses[e] of the cave.

4 David’s men told him, “Look, today is the day about which the Lord spoke to you when he said,[f] ‘I’ll give your enemy into your hand.’ Do to him whatever you want!”

David rose and stealthily cut off the corner of Saul’s robe. 5 Afterwards, David’s conscience bothered him because he had cut off the corner of Saul’s robe. 6 He told his men, “God forbid that I should do this thing to your majesty, the Lord’s anointed, by stretching out my hand against him, since he’s the Lord’s anointed.” 7 David restrained his men with his[g] words and did not allow them to rebel against Saul. Saul got up from the cave and started off.[h]

David Rebukes Saul

8 Then David got up, went out of the cave, and called out to Saul: “Your majesty!”[i] Saul looked behind him, and David bowed down with his face to the ground and prostrated himself. 9 Then David told Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of those who say, ‘Look, David is trying to harm you?’ 10 Look, this very day you saw with your own eyes[j] that the Lord gave you into my control in the cave, and one of my men[k] told me to kill you, but I had pity[l] on you and responded, ‘I won’t lift my hand against his majesty because he’s the Lord’s anointed.’ 11 Look, my father, look! The corner of your robe is in my hand. Indeed, by my cutting off the corner of your robe and not killing you, you may know and understand that I have no evil intent or transgression—I haven’t wronged you, even though you are hunting me to take my life. 12 May the Lord judge between me and you, and may he take vengeance on you for me, but I won’t be attacking you. 13 Just like the ancient proverb says, ‘From wicked people comes wickedness,’ but I’m not against you. 14 After whom is the king of Israel going out? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog or a single flea? 15 May the Lord act as judge, and may he decide between me and you. May he see, may he plead my case, and may he vindicate me in this dispute against you.”[m]

Saul’s Apparent Repentance

16 When David had finished saying these things to Saul, Saul asked, “Is this your voice, my son David?” Then Saul cried loudly 17 to David, “You are more righteous than I am, because you have treated me well even though I’ve treated you poorly. 18 You have explained how you treated me well, in that the Lord delivered me into your hand but you didn’t kill me. 19 For who would find his enemy and then send him away safely?[n] May the Lord repay you for what you have done for me today. 20 Now I know for certain that you will be king, and that the kingdom will be established under your authority.[o] 21 Now swear to me by the Lord that you will never eliminate my descendants after me, and that you won’t erase my name from my father’s family.” 22 David made this vow to Saul, and then Saul went home, while David and his men went up to the stronghold.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 24:1 This v. is 24:2 in MT
  2. 1 Samuel 24:1 Lit. they told him
  3. 1 Samuel 24:2 Lit. choice men
  4. 1 Samuel 24:3 Lit. to cover his feet
  5. 1 Samuel 24:3 Or in the interior
  6. 1 Samuel 24:4 The Heb. lacks when he said
  7. 1 Samuel 24:7 The Heb. lacks his
  8. 1 Samuel 24:7 Lit. went on the way
  9. 1 Samuel 24:8 Lit. My lord, O king!
  10. 1 Samuel 24:10 Lit. your eyes saw
  11. 1 Samuel 24:10 Lit. and he
  12. 1 Samuel 24:10 So LXX
  13. 1 Samuel 24:15 Or he deliver me from your hand
  14. 1 Samuel 24:19 Lit. on a good road
  15. 1 Samuel 24:20 Lit. hand
Next
1 Samuel 23
1 Samuel 25
Next
dropdown
New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.


International Standard Version (ISV)

Copyright © 1995-2014 by ISV Foundation. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. Used by permission of Davidson Press, LLC.

ISV Bible