1 Samuel

And it came to pass, when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi.

1Saul came back from chasing the Philistines, a people who fought Israel. Then someone told him, "David is out in the wilderness of Engedi." The wilderness is dry, empty land with rocks and caves.

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.

2So Saul picked three thousand of his best soldiers from all Israel. He took them to look for David and his men near 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.

3On the way, Saul came to some sheep pens beside the road. There was a cave there. Saul went inside to go to the bathroom. David and his men were hiding far back in that same cave.

NoteThe KJV says Saul went in to "cover his feet." That was a polite old way of saying he needed a toilet.

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.

4David's men whispered to him, "This is the day the LORD told you about. He said he would put your enemy in your hands. Now you can do whatever you want with him." So David crept up quietly. He cut off a corner of Saul's robe.

NoteThe KJV says David cut off the "skirt" of Saul's robe. That means the bottom corner of the long robe, not a skirt like people wear today.

5And it came to pass afterward, that David’s heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul’s skirt.

5Afterward, David felt bad inside. He was sorry he had cut off the corner of Saul's robe.

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.

6He said to his men, "I must never do such a thing to my master. God chose Saul to be king, and oil was poured on his head to show it. I will not lift my hand to hurt him."

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.

7David's words held his men back. He did not let them attack Saul. Then Saul got up, walked out of the cave, and went on his way.

NoteThe KJV says David "suffered them not" to rise against Saul. Here "suffered" means allowed, so it means he did not let them.

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.

8After that, David got up and went out of the cave too. He called out, "My lord the king!" Saul looked behind him. David bowed down with his face to the ground.

9And David said to Saul, Wherefore hearest thou men’s words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt?

9David said to Saul, "Why do you listen to men who say I want to hurt you?"

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.

10"Today you saw it with your own eyes. The LORD put you in my hands there in the cave. Some of my men told me to kill you. But I let you live. I said, I will not hurt my master, because God chose him to be king."

11Moreover, my father, see, yea, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand: for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe, and killed thee not, know thou and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in mine hand, and I have not sinned against thee; yet thou huntest my soul to take it.

11"Look, my father. See this piece of your robe in my hand. I cut it off, but I did not kill you. So you can see I have done nothing wrong to you. I have not sinned against you. Yet you keep hunting me to take my life."

12The LORD judge between me and thee, and the LORD avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.

12"Let the LORD decide who is right, you or me. Let the LORD pay you back for what you are doing to me. But I will never lift my hand against you."

13As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.

13"There is an old saying: bad things come from bad people. But I will never lift my hand against you."

14After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea.

14"Who is the king of Israel coming out to fight? Who are you chasing? A dead dog? A flea?"

15The LORD therefore be judge, and judge between me and thee, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thine hand.

15"Let the LORD be the judge between you and me. Let him look at what happened and speak up for me. Let him keep me safe from your hand."

16And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.

16When David finished speaking, Saul called back, "Is that your voice, David my son?" Then Saul cried out loud.

17And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil.

17Saul said to David, "You are more in the right than I am. You have been good to me. I have been bad to you."

18And thou hast shewed this day how that thou hast dealt well with me: forasmuch as when the LORD had delivered me into thine hand, thou killedst me not.

18"Today you showed how well you have treated me. The LORD put me in your hands, and you did not kill me."

19For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away? wherefore the LORD reward thee good for that thou hast done unto me this day.

19"When a man finds his enemy, does he let him walk away safe? May the LORD be good to you for what you did for me today."

20And now, behold, I know well that thou shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thine hand.

20"Now I know for sure that you will be king. The kingdom of Israel will be strong and steady under you."

21Swear now therefore unto me by the LORD, that thou wilt not cut off my seed after me, and that thou wilt not destroy my name out of my father’s house.

21"So promise me now, before the LORD. Promise you will not kill my children and their children after me. Promise you will not wipe my family name away."

22And David sware unto Saul. And Saul went home; but David and his men gat them up unto the hold.

22David made that promise to Saul. Then Saul went home. David and his men went back up to their safe hiding place in the rocks.

NoteThe KJV says David went up to "the hold." A hold is a stronghold, a safe place in the rocks that is hard to attack.