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Read the Bible

King James Version

1 Samuel 26:18

And he said, Wherefore doth my lord thus pursue after his servant? for what have I done? or what evil is in mine hand?

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Malice;   Self-Control;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Persecution;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Saul, king of israel;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Prayer;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Hachilah;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - David;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Samuel, Books of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - David;  

Encyclopedias:

- The Jewish Encyclopedia - Saul of Tarsus;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Then he continued, “Why is my lord pursuing his servant? What have I done? What crime have I committed?
Hebrew Names Version
He said, Why does my lord pursue after his servant? for what have I done? or what evil is in my hand?
Lexham English Bible
Then he said, "Why is my lord pursuing after his servant? For what have I done? And what evil is in my hand?
English Standard Version
And he said, "Why does my lord pursue after his servant? For what have I done? What evil is on my hands?
New Century Version
David also said, "Why are you chasing me, my master? What wrong have I done? What evil am I guilty of?
New English Translation
He went on to say, "Why is my lord chasing his servant? What have I done? What wrong have I done?
Amplified Bible
And David said, "Why is my lord pursuing his servant? For what have I done? Or what evil is in my hand?
New American Standard Bible
He also said, "Why then is my lord pursuing his servant? For what have I done? Or what evil is in my hand?
Geneva Bible (1587)
And he sayde, Wherefore doeth my lorde thus persecute his seruant? for what haue I done? or what euill is in mine hand?
Legacy Standard Bible
He also said, "Why then is my lord pursuing his servant? For what have I done? Or what evil is in my hand?
Contemporary English Version
Why are you after me? Have I done something wrong, or have I committed a crime?
Complete Jewish Bible
and continued, "Why is my lord chasing his servant? What have I done? What evil am I planning?
Darby Translation
And he said, Why does my lord thus pursue after his servant? for what have I done? or what evil is in my hand?
Easy-to-Read Version
Sir, why are you chasing me? What wrong have I done? What am I guilty of?
George Lamsa Translation
Then David said, Why does my lord pursue after his servant? For what have I done? Or what evil is in my hands?
Good News Translation
And he added, "Why, sir, are you still pursuing me, your servant? What have I done? What crime have I committed?
Literal Translation
And he said, Why is this, that my lord is pursuing his servant? For what have I done, and what in my hand is evil?
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And he sayde morouer: Why doth my lorde so persecute his seruaunt? What haue I done? and what euell is there in my hande?
American Standard Version
And he said, Wherefore doth my lord pursue after his servant? for what have I done? or what evil is in my hand?
Bible in Basic English
And he said, Why does my lord go armed against his servant? what have I done? or what evil is there in me?
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And he sayde: Wherefore doth my lorde thus persecute his seruaunt? for what haue I done? or what euyll is in myne hand?
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And he said: 'Wherefore doth my lord pursue after his servant? for what have I done? or what evil is in my hand?
King James Version (1611)
And he said, Wherefore doeth my lord thus pursue after his seruant? for what haue I done? or what euill is in mine hand?
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And he said, Why does my lord thus pursue after his servant? for in what have I sinned? and what unrighteousness has been found in me?
English Revised Version
And he said, Wherefore doth my lord pursue after his servant? for what have I done? or what evil is in mine hand?
Berean Standard Bible
And he continued, "Why is my lord pursuing his servant? What have I done? What evil is in my hand?
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And Dauid seide, For what cause pursueth my lord his seruaunt? What haue Y do, ether what yuel is in myn hond? Now therfor,
Young's Literal Translation
and he saith, `Why [is] this -- my lord is pursuing after his servant? for what have I done, and what [is] in my hand evil?
Update Bible Version
And he said, Why does my lord pursue after his slave? for what have I done? or what evil is in my hand?
Webster's Bible Translation
And he said, Why doth my lord thus pursue his servant? for what have I done? or what evil [is] in my hand?
World English Bible
He said, Why does my lord pursue after his servant? for what have I done? or what evil is in my hand?
New King James Version
And he said, "Why does my lord thus pursue his servant? For what have I done, or what evil is in my hand?
New Living Translation
Why are you chasing me? What have I done? What is my crime?
New Life Bible
Why is my lord coming after his servant? What have I done? What am I guilty of?
New Revised Standard
And he added, "Why does my lord pursue his servant? For what have I done? What guilt is on my hands?
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And he said, Wherefore is it, that my lord is in pursuit of his servant? For what have I done? or what is in my hand that is wrong?
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he said: Wherefore doth my lord persecute his servant? What have I done? or what evil is there in my hand?
Revised Standard Version
And he said, "Why does my lord pursue after his servant? For what have I done? What guilt is on my hands?
New American Standard Bible (1995)
He also said, "Why then is my lord pursuing his servant? For what have I done? Or what evil is in my hand?

Contextual Overview

13 Then David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of an hill afar off; a great space being between them: 14 And David cried to the people, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, Answerest thou not, Abner? Then Abner answered and said, Who art thou that criest to the king? 15 And David said to Abner, Art not thou a valiant man? and who is like to thee in Israel? wherefore then hast thou not kept thy lord the king? for there came one of the people in to destroy the king thy lord. 16 This thing is not good that thou hast done. As the Lord liveth, ye are worthy to die, because ye have not kept your master, the Lord 's anointed. And now see where the king's spear is, and the cruse of water that was at his bolster. 17 And Saul knew David's voice, and said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And David said, It is my voice, my lord, O king. 18 And he said, Wherefore doth my lord thus pursue after his servant? for what have I done? or what evil is in mine hand? 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.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Wherefore: 1 Samuel 24:9, 1 Samuel 24:11-14, Psalms 7:3-5, Psalms 35:7, Psalms 69:4

what have I: 1 Samuel 17:29, John 8:46, John 10:32, John 18:23

Reciprocal: Genesis 20:9 - What hast 1 Samuel 29:8 - But what have Psalms 59:3 - not Psalms 109:3 - fought Psalms 119:78 - without Psalms 119:161 - Princes Jeremiah 37:18 - General Lamentations 3:52 - without Daniel 6:22 - and also Mark 14:48 - Are

Cross-References

Genesis 21:31
Wherefore he called that place Beersheba; because there they sware both of them.
Numbers 32:38
And Nebo, and Baalmeon, (their names being changed,) and Shibmah: and gave other names unto the cities which they builded.
Psalms 16:4
Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god: their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips.
Hosea 2:17
For I will take away the names of Baalim out of her mouth, and they shall no more be remembered by their name.
Zechariah 13:2
And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord of hosts, that I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and they shall no more be remembered: and also I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And he said, wherefore doth my lord thus pursue after his servant?.... Suggesting that it was both below him to do it, and against his interest; for David was his servant, and he would gladly have continued in his service, and done his business, but he drove him from it, and pursued him as a traitor, when he had not been guilty of any offence to his knowledge: and therefore puts the following questions:

for what have I done? or what evil [is] in mine hand? what crime had he committed, that he was pursued after this manner, and his life sought for? what had he done worthy of death? having a clear conscience, he could boldly ask these questions.


 
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