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1 Samuel 24 :: New International Version (NIV)

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David Spares Saul’s Life

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 24:1 - After Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, “David is in the Desert of En Gedi.”
Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 24:2 - So Saul took three thousand able young men from all Israel and set out to look for David and his men near the Crags of the Wild Goats.
Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 24:3 - He 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.
Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 24:4 - The men said, “This is the day the LORD spoke of when he said[fn] 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.
Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 24:5 - Afterward, David was conscience-stricken for having cut off a corner of his robe.
Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 24:6 - He 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.”
Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 24:7 - With these words David sharply rebuked his men and did not allow them to attack Saul. And Saul left the cave and went his way.
Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 24:8 - Then 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.
Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 24:9 - He said to Saul, “Why do you listen when men say, ‘David is bent on harming you’?
Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 24:10 - This 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.’
Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 24:11 - See, my father, look at this piece of your robe in my hand! I cut off the corner of your robe but did not kill you. See that there is nothing in my hand to indicate that I am guilty of wrongdoing or rebellion. I have not wronged you, but you are hunting me down to take my life.
Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 24:12 - May the LORD judge between you and me. And may the LORD avenge the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not touch you.
Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 24:13 - As the old saying goes, ‘From evildoers come evil deeds,’ so my hand will not touch you.
Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 24:14 - “Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Who are you pursuing? A dead dog? A flea?
Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 24:15 - May 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.”
Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 24:16 - When David finished saying this, Saul asked, “Is that your voice, David my son?” And he wept aloud.
Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 24:17 - “You are more righteous than I,” he said. “You have treated me well, but I have treated you badly.
Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 24:18 - You 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.
Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 24:19 - When 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.
Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 24:20 - I know that you will surely be king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hands.
Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 24:21 - Now swear to me by the LORD that you will not kill off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father’s family.”
Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 24:22 - So David gave his oath to Saul. Then Saul returned home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.
NIV Footnotes
Or “Today the LORD is saying
NIV

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV®
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®
Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.


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For more information on this translation, see the NIV Preface.

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