1 Samuel 24:4 - Plain English Version

⁴ David’s men said to him, “You remember that God said this, ‘I will help you to beat your enemy that does wrong to you. You can do whatever you like to him.’ So you can kill him dead now.” David went quietly up behind Saul and cut off a little bit of his coat with his knife. Saul just sat there. He did not know what David was doing.

More versions

King James Version (Oxford) 1769

⁴ And 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.

Amplified Bible - Classic Edition

⁴ David's men said to him, Behold the day of which the Lord said to you, Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hands and you shall do to him as seems good to you. Then David arose [in the darkness] and stealthily cut off the skirt of Saul's robe.

American Standard Version (1901)

⁴ And the men of David said unto him, Behold, the day of which Jehovah said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thy hand, and thou shalt do to him as it shall seem good unto thee. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul’s robe privily.

Common English Bible

⁴ David’s soldiers said to him, “This is the day the LORD spoke of when he promised you, ‘I will hand your enemy over to you, and you can do to him whatever you think best.’” So David snuck up and cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.

Catholic Public Domain Version

⁴ And he arrived at the sheepfolds, which presented themselves along the way. And a cave was in that place, which Saul entered, so that he might ease his bowels. But David and his men were hiding in the interior part of the cave.

1 Samuel 24:4 Cross References

1 Samuel 24:10

Just now God brought us together in this cave. I could do whatever I liked to you. Some said to me, ‘You can kill him dead now.’ But I was sorry for you. I said, ‘No, I can’t kill my boss. God picked him, to be the big boss of Israel.’

1 Samuel 24:18

And now you have just told me that you feel sorry for me. God brought us together in the cave, but still you did not kill me.

1 Samuel 26:23

Just now God brought us together, and I did not kill you. He picked you to be boss, so I will not kill you. God is good to people that listen to him. He is good to people that live straight.