Loading…

Chapter 24

David Spares Saul’s Life

1 Now awhen Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, bhe was told, saying, “Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi.”

2 Then aSaul 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.

3 He came to the sheepfolds on the way, where there was a cave; and Saul awent in to 1relieve himself. Now bDavid and his men were sitting in the inner recesses of the cave.

4 The men of David said to him, “Behold, athis is the day of which the Lord said to you, ‘Behold; bI am about to give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it seems good 1to you.’ ” Then David arose and cut off the edge of Saul’s robe secretly.

5 It came about afterward that aDavid’s 1conscience bothered him because he had cut off the edge of Saul’s robe.

6 So he said to his men, “aFar be it from me because of the Lord that I should do this thing to my lord, the Lord’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, since he is the Lord’s anointed.”

7 David 1persuaded his men with these words and did not allow them to rise up against Saul. And Saul arose, 2left the cave, and went on his way.

8 Now afterward David arose and went out of the cave and called after Saul, saying, “My lord the king!” And when Saul looked behind him, aDavid bowed with his face to the ground and prostrated himself.

9 David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of men, saying, ‘Behold, David seeks 1to harm you’?

10 “aBehold, this day your eyes have seen that the Lord had given you today into my hand in the cave, and bsome said to kill you, but my eye had pity on you; and I said, ‘I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord’s anointed.’

11 “Now, amy father, see! Indeed, see the edge of your robe in my hand! For in that I cut off the edge of your robe and did not kill you, know and perceive that there is no evil or 1rebellion in my hands, and I have not sinned against you, though you bare lying in wait for my life to take it.

12 “aMay the Lord judge between 1you and me, and may the Lord avenge me on you; but my hand shall not be against you.

13 “As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘aOut of the wicked comes forth wickedness’; but my hand shall not be against you.

14 “After whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom are you pursuing? aA dead dog, ba single flea?

15 “aThe Lord therefore be judge and decide between 1you and me; and may He see and bplead my cause and 2deliver me from your hand.”

16 When David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, “aIs this your voice, my son David?” Then Saul lifted up his voice and wept.

17 aHe said to David, “You are more righteous than I; for byou have dealt well with me, while I have dealt wickedly with you.

18 “You have declared today that you have done good to me, that athe Lord delivered me into your hand and yet you did not kill me.

19 “For if a man afinds his enemy, will he let him go away 1safely? May the Lord therefore reward you with good in return for what you have done to me this day.

20 “Now, behold, aI know that you will surely be king, and that bthe kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand.

21 “So now aswear to me by the Lord that you will not cut off my 1descendants after me and that you will not destroy my name from my father’s household.”

22 David swore to Saul. And Saul went to his home, but David and his men went up to athe stronghold.

NASB95

About New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update

The New American Standard Bible, long considered a favorite study Bible by serious students of the Scriptures, has been completely revised and updated in this new 1995 translation. Preserving the Lockman Foundation's standard of creating a literal translation of the original Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic manuscripts, the 1995 NASB provides a literal translation that is very readable. Formalized language and outdated words and phrases have been replaced with their contemporary counterparts. In short, the 1995 NASB is a Bible translation that is very conducive to word-by-word study and is also able to be read (and understood) by the whole family.

Copyright

New American Standard Bible
Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved. http://www.lockman.org

NAS Cross References and Translator's Notes
Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1971, 1973, 1975, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved. http://www.lockman.org

NAS Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible
Copyright © 1981, 1998 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.

The "NASB," "NAS," "New American Standard Bible," and "New American Standard" trademarks are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by The Lockman Foundation. Use of these trademarks requires the permission of The Lockman Foundation.

PERMISSION TO QUOTE

The text of the New American Standard Bible® may be quoted and/or reprinted up to and inclusive of five hundred (500) verses without express written permission of The Lockman Foundation, providing that the verses do not amount to a complete book of the Bible nor do the verses quoted account for more than 25% of the total work in which they are quoted.

Notice of Copyright must appear on the title or copyright page of the work as follows:

"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE, © Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission."

When quotations from the NASB® text are used in not-for-sale media, such as church bulletins, orders of service, posters, transparencies or similar media, the abbreviation (NASB) may be used at the end of the quotation.

This permission to quote is limited to material which is wholly manufactured in compliance with the provisions of the copyright laws of the United States of America and all applicable international conventions and treaties.

Quotations and/or reprints in excess of the above limitations, or other permission requests, must be directed to and approved in writing by The Lockman Foundation, PO Box 2279, La Habra, CA 90632-2279, (714) 879-3055. http://www.lockman.org

Support Info

nasb95

Table of Contents