1 Samuel 26:18 net — He went on to say,“Why is my lord chasing his servant? What have I done? What wrong have I done?

NET Bible

"He went on to say,“Why is my lord chasing his servant? What have I done? What wrong have I done?"

— 1 Samuel 26:18, NET Bible

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1 Samuel 26:18 in Other Translations

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1 Samuel 26 — Context

15

David said to Abner,“Aren’t you a man? After all, who is like you in Israel? Why then haven’t you protected your lord the king? One of the soldiers came to kill your lord the king.

16

This failure on your part isn’t good! As surely as the LORD lives, you people who have not protected your lord, the LORD’s chosen one, are as good as dead! Now look where the king’s spear and the jug of water that was by his head are!”

17

When Saul recognized David’s voice, he said,“Is that your voice, my son David?” David replied,“Yes, it’s my voice, my lord the king.”

18

He went on to say,“Why is my lord chasing his servant? What have I done? What wrong have I done?

19

So let my lord the king now listen to the words of his servant. If the LORD has incited you against me, may he take delight in an offering. But if men have instigated this, may they be cursed before the LORD! For they have driven me away this day from being united with the LORD’s inheritance, saying,‘Go on, serve other gods!’

20

Now don’t let my blood fall to the ground away from the LORD’s presence, for the king of Israel has gone out to look for a flea the way one looks for a partridge in the hill country.”

21

Saul replied,“I have sinned. Come back, my son David. I won’t harm you anymore, for you treated my life with value this day. I have behaved foolishly and have made a very terrible mistake!”

1 Samuel 26:18 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does 1 Samuel 26:18 say?
1 Samuel 26:18 in the NET Bible reads: “He went on to say,“Why is my lord chasing his servant? What have I done? What wrong have I done?”
Where is 1 Samuel 26:18 in the Bible?
1 Samuel 26:18 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of 1 Samuel, chapter 26, verse 18.
Who wrote 1 Samuel?
1 Samuel is traditionally attributed to Anonymous (traditionally Samuel, Nathan, and Gad). It was written c. 930–722 BC.
What is the book of 1 Samuel about?
1 Samuel marks Israel's transition from judges to kings. It traces the births and ministries of the prophet Samuel, the rise and tragic fall of Saul as Israel's first king, and the anointing of the shepherd boy David, whose faith makes him a man after God's own heart.
What are the major themes of 1 Samuel?
1 Samuel explores themes including Kingship, Prophet, Faith vs. Fear, God's Sovereign Choice, Anointing. These themes shape the meaning and context of 1 Samuel 26:18.
What translation should I read 1 Samuel 26:18 in?
1 Samuel 26:18 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize 1 Samuel 26:18?
1 Samuel 26:18 reads (NET): “He went on to say,“Why is my lord chasing his servant? What have I done? What wrong have I done?” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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