| Holman Christian Standard Bible | International Standard Version |
| 1David said to himself, "One of these days I'll be swept away by Saul. There is nothing better for me than to escape immediately to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will stop searching for me everywhere in Israel, and I'll escape from him." | 1David told himself, "One of these days I'll perish by Saul's hand. There is nothing better for me to do than to escape to Philistine territory. Saul will give up searching for me anymore within the borders of Israel, so I'll escape from him." |
| 2So David set out with his 600 men and went to Achish son of Maoch, the king of Gath. | 2So David got up, and he and the 600 men who were with him went to Maoch's son Achish, the king of Gath. |
| 3David and his men stayed with Achish in Gath. Each man had his family with him, and David had his two wives: Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail of Carmel, Nabal's widow. | 3David stayed with Achish in Gath along with his men, each of whom was with his household. David had his two wives, Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail, who had been the wife of Nabal of Carmel. |
| 4When it was reported to Saul that David had fled to Gath, he no longer searched for him. | 4Saul was told that David had fled to Gath, and he did not continue to search for him. |
| 5Now David said to Achish, "If I have found favor with you, let me be given a place in one of the outlying towns, so I can live there. Why should your servant live in the royal city with you?" | 5David told Achish, "If it pleases you, give me a place in one of the outlying towns, so I may live there. Why should your servant live with you in the royal city?" |
| 6That day Achish gave Ziklag to him, and it still belongs to the kings of Judah today. | 6So that day Achish gave him Ziklag, and therefore, Ziklag has belonged to the kings of Judah until the present time. |
| 7The time that David stayed in the Philistine territory amounted to a year and four months. | 7David lived in Philistine territory for a year and four months. |
| 8David and his men went up and raided the Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites. From ancient times they had been the inhabitants of the region through Shur as far as the land of Egypt. | 8David and his men went up and raided the descendants of Geshur, the descendants of Girzi, and the Amalekites, for they had been living in the land since ancient times, from the entrance of Shur all the way to the land of Egypt. |
| 9Whenever David attacked the land, he did not leave a single person alive, either man or woman, but he took flocks, herds, donkeys, camels, and clothing. Then he came back to Achish, | 9David struck the land and did not leave a man or woman alive. He took sheep, cattle, donkeys, camels, and clothing, and then came back and went to Achish. |
| 10who inquired, "Where did you raid today?" David replied, "The south country of Judah," "The south country of the Jerahmeelites," or "Against the south country of the Kenites." | 10Achish said, "Where did you raid today?" David answered, "Against the Negev of Judah, against the Negev of the Jerahmeelites, and against the Negev of the Kenites." |
| 11David did not let a man or woman live to be brought to Gath, for he said, "Or they will inform on us and say, 'This is what David did.'" This was David's custom during the whole time he stayed in the Philistine territory. | 11David did not leave a man or woman alive to bring to Gath. He told himself, "Otherwise, they'll say, 'This is what David is doing, and this has been his practice all the time he has lived in Philistine territory.'" |
| 12So Achish trusted David, thinking, "Since he has made himself detestable to his people Israel, he will be my servant forever." | 12Achish believed David, telling himself, "He has certainly made himself repulsive to his people in Israel. He will be my servant forever." |
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