| New International Version | NET Bible |
| 1When David was told, "Look, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and are looting the threshing floors," | 1They told David, "The Philistines are fighting in Keilah and are looting the threshing floors." |
| 2he inquired of the LORD, saying, "Shall I go and attack these Philistines?" The LORD answered him, "Go, attack the Philistines and save Keilah." | 2So David asked the LORD, "Should I go and strike down these Philistines?" The LORD said to David, "Go, strike down the Philistines and deliver Keilah." |
| 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!" | 3But David's men said to him, "We are afraid while we are still here in Judah! What will it be like if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?" |
| 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." | 4So David asked the LORD once again. But again the LORD replied, "Arise, go down to Keilah, for I will give the Philistines into your hand." |
| 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. | 5So David and his men went to Keilah and fought the Philistines. He took away their cattle and thoroughly defeated them. David delivered the inhabitants of Keilah. |
| 6(Now Abiathar son of Ahimelek had brought the ephod down with him when he fled to David at Keilah.) | 6Now when Abiathar son of Ahimelech had fled to David at Keilah, he had brought with him an ephod. |
| 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." | 7When Saul was told that David had come to Keilah, Saul said, "God has delivered him into my hand, for he has boxed himself into a corner by entering a city with two barred gates." |
| 8And Saul called up all his forces for battle, to go down to Keilah to besiege David and his men. | 8So Saul mustered all his army to go down to Keilah and besiege David and his men. |
| 9When David learned that Saul was plotting against him, he said to Abiathar the priest, "Bring the ephod." | 9When David realized that Saul was planning to harm him, he told Abiathar the priest, "Bring the ephod!" |
| 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. | 10Then David said, "O LORD God of Israel, your servant has clearly heard that Saul is planning to come to Keilah to destroy the city because of me. |
| 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." | 11Will the leaders of Keilah deliver me into his hand? Will Saul come down as your servant has heard? O LORD God of Israel, please inform your servant!" Then the LORD said, "He will come down." |
| 12Again David asked, "Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me and my men to Saul?" And the LORD said, "They will." | 12David asked, "Will the leaders of Keilah deliver me and my men into Saul's hand?" The LORD said, "They will deliver you over." |
| 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. | 13So David and his men, who numbered about six hundred, set out and left Keilah; they moved around from one place to another. When told that David had escaped from Keilah, Saul called a halt to his expedition. |
| 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. | 14David stayed in the strongholds that were in the desert and in the hill country of the desert of Ziph. Saul looked for him all the time, but God did not deliver David into his hand. |
| 15While David was at Horesh in the Desert of Ziph, he learned that Saul had come out to take his life. | 15David realized that Saul had come out to seek his life; at that time David was in Horesh in the desert of Ziph. |
| 16And Saul's son Jonathan went to David at Horesh and helped him find strength in God. | 16Then Jonathan son of Saul left and went to David at Horesh. He encouraged him through God. |
| 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." | 17He said to him, "Don't be afraid! For the hand of my father Saul cannot find you. You will rule over Israel, and I will be your second in command. Even my father Saul realizes this." |
| 18The two of them made a covenant before the LORD. Then Jonathan went home, but David remained at Horesh. | 18When the two of them had made a covenant before the LORD, David stayed on at Horesh, but Jonathan went to his house. |
| 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? | 19Then the Ziphites went up to Saul at Gibeah and said, "Isn't David hiding among us in the strongholds at Horesh on the hill of Hakilah, south of Jeshimon? |
| 20Now, Your Majesty, come down whenever it pleases you to do so, and we will be responsible for giving him into your hands." | 20Now at your own discretion, O king, come down. Delivering him into the king's hand will be our responsibility." |
| 21Saul replied, "The LORD bless you for your concern for me. | 21Saul replied, "May you be blessed by the LORD, for you have had compassion on me. |
| 22Go and get more information. Find out where David usually goes and who has seen him there. They tell me he is very crafty. | 22Go and make further arrangements. Determine precisely where he is and who has seen him there, for I am told that he is extremely cunning. |
| 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." | 23Locate precisely all the places where he hides and return to me with dependable information. Then I will go with you. If he is in the land, I will find him among all the thousands of Judah." |
| 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. | 24So they left and went to Ziph ahead of Saul. Now David and his men were in the desert of Maon, in the Arabah to the south of Jeshimon. |
| 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. | 25Saul and his men went to look for him. But David was informed and went down to the rock and stayed in the desert of Maon. When Saul heard about it, he pursued David in the desert of Maon. |
| 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, | 26Saul went on one side of the mountain, while David and his men went on the other side of the mountain. David was hurrying to get away from Saul, but Saul and his men were surrounding David and his men so they could capture them. |
| 27a messenger came to Saul, saying, "Come quickly! The Philistines are raiding the land." | 27But a messenger came to Saul saying, "Come quickly, for the Philistines have raided the land!" |
| 28Then Saul broke off his pursuit of David and went to meet the Philistines. That is why they call this place Sela Hammahlekoth. | 28So Saul stopped pursuing David and went to confront the Philistines. Therefore that place is called Sela Hammahlekoth. |
| 29And David went up from there and lived in the strongholds of En Gedi. | 29Then David went up from there and stayed in the strongholds of En Gedi. |
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