1 Samuel 26:21

Sin Repentance Guilt and conscience Conflict and reconciliation

¹⁹ Now therefore, I pray thee, let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If the LORD have stirred thee up against me, let him accept an offering: but if they be the children of men, cursed be they before the LORD; for they have driven me out this day from abiding in the inheritance of the LORD, saying, Go, serve other gods.

²⁰ Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth before the face of the LORD: for the king of Israel is come out to seek a flea, as when one doth hunt a partridge in the mountains.

Then said Saul, I have sinned: return, my son David: for I will no more do thee harm, because my soul was precious in thine eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.

²² And David answered and said, Behold the king’s spear! and let one of the young men come over and fetch it.

²³ The LORD render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness: for the LORD delivered thee into my hand to day, but I would not stretch forth mine hand against the LORD’s anointed.

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: Then Saul replied, “I have sinned. Come back, David my son. I will never harm you again, because today you considered my life precious. I have played the fool and have committed a grave error!”
KJV: Then said Saul, I have sinned: return, my son David: for I will no more do thee harm, because my soul was precious in thine eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.
WEB: Then Saul said, “I have sinned. Return, my son David; for I will no more do you harm, because my life was precious in your eyes today. Behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.”
ASV: Then said Saul, I have sinned: return, my son David; for I will no more do thee harm, because my life was precious in thine eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.
DARBY: And Saul said, I have sinned: return, my son David; for I will no more do thee harm, because my life was precious in thine eyes this day: behold, I have acted foolishly, and have erred exceedingly.
BLB: And Saul said, “I have sinned. Return, my son David, for I will harm you no more, upon that my life was precious in your eyes this day. Behold, I have acted foolishly and erred exceedingly greatly.”

ÅB: Da sa Saul: Jeg har syndet; kom tilbake, min sønn David! Jeg vil ikke gjøre deg noe ondt mere, siden mitt liv var så dyrt i dine øyne idag. Jeg har virkelig båret meg at som en dåre og faret storlig vill.
OTB: Da sa Saul, “Jeg har syndet. Kom tilbake, min sønn David, for jeg vil ikke skade deg igjen, fordi mitt liv var dyrebart i dine øyne i dag. Se, jeg har handlet som en dåre og gjort en fryktelig feil.”
B1930: Da sa Saul: Jeg har syndet; kom tilbake, min sønn David! Jeg vil ikke gjøre dig noget ondt mere, siden mitt liv var så dyrt i dine øine idag. Jeg har virkelig båret mig at som en dåre og faret storlig vill.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

1 Samuel 24:17
And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil.
Read in context
1 Samuel 15:24
And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.
Read in context
Exodus 9:27
And Pharaoh sent, and called for Moses and Aaron, and said unto them, I have sinned this time: the LORD is righteous, and I and my people are wicked.
Read in context
1 Samuel 15:30
Then he said, I have sinned: yet honour me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD thy God.
Read in context
Matthew 27:4
Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.
Read in context
1 Samuel 26:24
And, behold, as thy life was much set by this day in mine eyes, so let my life be much set by in the eyes of the LORD, and let him deliver me out of all tribulation.
Read in context
1 Samuel 27:4
And it was told Saul that David was fled to Gath: and he sought no more again for him.
Read in context
Numbers 22:34
And Balaam said unto the angel of the LORD, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again.
Read in context