| King James Bible | New International Version |
| 1Then they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines fight against Keilah, and they rob the threshingfloors. | 1When David was told, "Look, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and are looting the threshing floors," |
| 2Therefore David inquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And the LORD said unto David, Go, and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah. | 2he inquired of the LORD, saying, "Shall I go and attack these Philistines?" The LORD answered him, "Go, attack the Philistines and save Keilah." |
| 3And David's men said unto him, Behold, we be afraid here in Judah: how much more then if we come to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines? | 3But David's men said to him, "Here in Judah we are afraid. How much more, then, if we go to Keilah against the Philistine forces!" |
| 4Then David inquired of the LORD yet again. And the LORD answered him and said, Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will deliver the Philistines into thine hand. | 4Once again David inquired of the LORD, and the LORD answered him, "Go down to Keilah, for I am going to give the Philistines into your hand." |
| 5So David and his men went to Keilah, and fought with the Philistines, and brought away their cattle, and smote them with a great slaughter. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah. | 5So David and his men went to Keilah, fought the Philistines and carried off their livestock. He inflicted heavy losses on the Philistines and saved the people of Keilah. |
| 6And it came to pass, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah, that he came down with an ephod in his hand. | 6(Now Abiathar son of Ahimelek had brought the ephod down with him when he fled to David at Keilah.) |
| 7And it was told Saul that David was come to Keilah. And Saul said, God hath delivered him into mine hand; for he is shut in, by entering into a town that hath gates and bars. | 7Saul was told that David had gone to Keilah, and he said, "God has delivered him into my hands, for David has imprisoned himself by entering a town with gates and bars." |
| 8And Saul called all the people together to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men. | 8And Saul called up all his forces for battle, to go down to Keilah to besiege David and his men. |
| 9And David knew that Saul secretly practised mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring hither the ephod. | 9When David learned that Saul was plotting against him, he said to Abiathar the priest, "Bring the ephod." |
| 10Then said David, O LORD God of Israel, thy servant hath certainly heard that Saul seeketh to come to Keilah, to destroy the city for my sake. | 10David said, "LORD, God of Israel, your servant has heard definitely that Saul plans to come to Keilah and destroy the town on account of me. |
| 11Will the men of Keilah deliver me up into his hand? will Saul come down, as thy servant hath heard? O LORD God of Israel, I beseech thee, tell thy servant. And the LORD said, He will come down. | 11Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me to him? Will Saul come down, as your servant has heard? LORD, God of Israel, tell your servant." And the LORD said, "He will." |
| 12Then said David, Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul? And the LORD said, They will deliver thee up. | 12Again David asked, "Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me and my men to Saul?" And the LORD said, "They will." |
| 13Then David and his men, which were about six hundred, arose and departed out of Keilah, and went whithersoever they could go. And it was told Saul that David was escaped from Keilah; and he forbare to go forth. | 13So David and his men, about six hundred in number, left Keilah and kept moving from place to place. When Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah, he did not go there. |
| 14And David abode in the wilderness in strong holds, and remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God delivered him not into his hand. | 14David stayed in the wilderness strongholds and in the hills of the Desert of Ziph. Day after day Saul searched for him, but God did not give David into his hands. |
| 15And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life: and David was in the wilderness of Ziph in a wood. | 15While David was at Horesh in the Desert of Ziph, he learned that Saul had come out to take his life. |
| 16And Jonathan Saul's son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God. | 16And Saul's son Jonathan went to David at Horesh and helped him find strength in God. |
| 17And he said unto him, Fear not: for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee; and thou shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be next unto thee; and that also Saul my father knoweth. | 17"Don't be afraid," he said. "My father Saul will not lay a hand on you. You will be king over Israel, and I will be second to you. Even my father Saul knows this." |
| 18And they two made a covenant before the LORD: and David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house. | 18The two of them made a covenant before the LORD. Then Jonathan went home, but David remained at Horesh. |
| 19Then came up the Ziphites to Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself with us in strong holds in the wood, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of Jeshimon? | 19The Ziphites went up to Saul at Gibeah and said, "Is not David hiding among us in the strongholds at Horesh, on the hill of Hakilah, south of Jeshimon? |
| 20Now therefore, O king, come down according to all the desire of thy soul to come down; and our part shall be to deliver him into the king's hand. | 20Now, Your Majesty, come down whenever it pleases you to do so, and we will be responsible for giving him into your hands." |
| 21And Saul said, Blessed be ye of the LORD; for ye have compassion on me. | 21Saul replied, "The LORD bless you for your concern for me. |
| 22Go, I pray you, prepare yet, and know and see his place where his haunt is, and who hath seen him there: for it is told me that he dealeth very subtilly. | 22Go and get more information. Find out where David usually goes and who has seen him there. They tell me he is very crafty. |
| 23See therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking places where he hideth himself, and come ye again to me with the certainty, and I will go with you: and it shall come to pass, if he be in the land, that I will search him out throughout all the thousands of Judah. | 23Find out about all the hiding places he uses and come back to me with definite information. Then I will go with you; if he is in the area, I will track him down among all the clans of Judah." |
| 24And they arose, and went to Ziph before Saul: but David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the plain on the south of Jeshimon. | 24So they set out and went to Ziph ahead of Saul. Now David and his men were in the Desert of Maon, in the Arabah south of Jeshimon. |
| 25Saul also and his men went to seek him. And they told David: wherefore he came down into a rock, and abode in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon. | 25Saul and his men began the search, and when David was told about it, he went down to the rock and stayed in the Desert of Maon. When Saul heard this, he went into the Desert of Maon in pursuit of David. |
| 26And Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain: and David made haste to get away for fear of Saul; for Saul and his men compassed David and his men round about to take them. | 26Saul was going along one side of the mountain, and David and his men were on the other side, hurrying to get away from Saul. As Saul and his forces were closing in on David and his men to capture them, |
| 27But there came a messenger unto Saul, saying, Haste thee, and come; for the Philistines have invaded the land. | 27a messenger came to Saul, saying, "Come quickly! The Philistines are raiding the land." |
| 28Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines: therefore they called that place Selahammahlekoth. | 28Then Saul broke off his pursuit of David and went to meet the Philistines. That is why they call this place Sela Hammahlekoth. |
| 29And David went up from thence, and dwelt in strong holds at Engedi. | 29And David went up from there and lived in the strongholds of En Gedi. |
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