en-v0.1→en-v0.2-dev·#b1234f1b1837Contribute to en-v0.2

1 Samuel 24:1-22 — David Spares Saul's Life

1Sam.24.1-22

¹David went up from there and settled in the strongholds of En Gedi. ²Now when Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, “Behold, David is in the wilderness of En Gedi.” ³Then Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and went to seek David and his men in front of the Rocks of the Wild Goats. ⁴He came to the sheepfolds along 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. ⁵David's men said to him, “Behold, this is the day of which the LORD said to you, 'Behold, I will give your enemy into your hand, and you may do to him whatever seems good to you.'” Then David arose and stealthily cut off the corner of Saul's robe. ⁶Afterward, David's conscience struck him because he had cut off the corner of Saul's robe. ⁷He said to his men, “The LORD forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the LORD's anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, for he is the LORD's anointed.” ⁸So David restrained his men with these words and did not allow them to rise up against Saul. Then Saul rose up from the cave and went on his way. ⁹Afterward, David arose, went out of the cave, and called after Saul, saying, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the ground and prostrated himself. ¹⁰David said to Saul, "Why do you listen to the words of men, saying, 'Behold, David seeks your harm'? ¹¹Behold, this day your eyes have seen how the LORD delivered you today into my hand in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you, and I said, 'I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for he is the LORD's anointed.' ¹²My father, see, indeed see the corner of your robe in my hand! For in that I cut off the corner of your robe and did not kill you, know and see that there is no evil or rebellion in my actions, and I have not sinned against you, yet you are hunting my life to take it. ¹³May the LORD judge between me and you, and may the LORD avenge me on you, but my hand will not be against you . ¹⁴As the proverb of the ancients says, 'From the wicked comes wickedness,' but my hand will not be against you. ¹⁵After whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog? A single flea? ¹⁶May the LORD therefore be judge and decide between me and you. May he see and plead my case, and deliver me from your hand." ¹⁷When David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, “Is that your voice, my son David?” And Saul lifted up his voice and wept. ¹⁸He said to David, "You are more righteous than I, for you have repaid me with good, while I have repaid you with evil. ¹⁹You have declared today how you have dealt well with me, in that the LORD delivered me into your hand, yet you did not kill me. ²⁰For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away unharmed? May the LORD repay you with good for what you have done to me this day. ²¹Now, behold, I know that you will surely reign, and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand. ²²So now, swear to me by the LORD that you will not cut off my offspring after me, and that you will not wipe out my name from my father's house."

Translation Notes

4/11/2026

💡 Read the current translation below. If you have suggestions, comment by verse.

📚 Reference Translations

🔬 Exegesis Resources