| International Standard Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Someone told David, "Look, the Philistines are fighting at Keilah and are plundering the threshing floors." | 1It was reported to David: "Look, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and raiding the threshing floors." |
| 2David inquired of the LORD: "Shall I go and strike down these Philistines?" The LORD told David, "Go strike down the Philistines and deliver Keilah." | 2So David inquired of the LORD: "Should I launch an attack against these Philistines?" The LORD answered David, "Launch an attack against the Philistines and rescue Keilah." |
| 3David's men told him, "Look, we're afraid here in Judah. How much then, if we go to Keilah against the Philistine army?" | 3But David's men said to him, "Look, we're afraid here in Judah; how much more if we go to Keilah against the Philistine forces!" |
| 4David inquired of the LORD again, and the LORD answered him: "Get up, go down to Keilah. I'll give the Philistines into your control." | 4Once again, David inquired of the LORD, and the LORD answered him: "Go at once to Keilah, for I will hand the Philistines over to you." |
| 5David and his men went to Keilah and fought the Philistines. He carried off their livestock and defeated them decisively, and so David delivered the inhabitants of Keilah. | 5Then David and his men went to Keilah, fought against the Philistines, drove their livestock away, and inflicted heavy losses on them. So David rescued the inhabitants of Keilah. |
| 6Now when Ahimelech's son Abiathar had fled to David in Keilah, the ephod had come down with him. | 6Abiathar son of Ahimelech fled to David at Keilah, and he brought an ephod with him. |
| 7It was reported to Saul that David had come to Keilah, and Saul said, "The LORD has delivered him into my hand because he has shut himself in by going into a town with double gates and bars." | 7When it was reported to Saul that David had gone to Keilah, he said, "God has handed him over to me, for he has trapped himself by entering a town with barred gates." |
| 8Saul summoned for battle all his forces to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men. | 8Then Saul summoned all the troops to go to war at Keilah and besiege David and his men. |
| 9David knew that Saul was devising evil plans against him, and so he told Abiathar the priest, "Bring the ephod." | 9When David learned that Saul was plotting evil against him, he said to Abiathar the priest, "Bring the ephod." |
| 10David said, "LORD God of Israel. Your servant has definitely heard that Saul intends to come to Keilah to destroy the town because of me. | 10Then David said, " LORD God of Israel, Your servant has heard that Saul intends to come to Keilah and destroy the town because of me. |
| 11Will the people of Keilah hand me over to him? Will Saul come down just as your servant has heard? LORD God of Israel, please inform your servant." The LORD said, "He will come down." | 11Will the citizens of Keilah hand me over to him? Will Saul come down as Your servant has heard? LORD God of Israel, please tell Your servant." The LORD answered, "He will come down." |
| 12Then David said, "Will the people of Keilah hand me over to Saul?" The LORD said, "They'll hand you over." | 12Then David asked, "Will the citizens of Keilah hand me and my men over to Saul?" "They will," the LORD responded. |
| 13David and his men, about 600 strong, got up and left Keilah. They moved around wherever they could go. Saul was advised that David had escaped from Keilah, so he stopped the campaign. | 13So David and his men, numbering about 600, left Keilah at once and moved from place to place. When it was reported to Saul that David had escaped from Keilah, he called off the expedition. |
| 14David stayed in the wilderness in the strongholds, and he lived in the hill country in the wilderness of Ziph. Saul sought him every day, but God did not let David slip into Saul's control. | 14David then stayed in the wilderness strongholds and in the hill country of the Wilderness of Ziph. Saul searched for him every day, but God did not hand David over to him. |
| 15David was afraid because Saul had come out to seek his life while David was in the wilderness of Ziph at Horesh. | 15David was in the Wilderness of Ziph in Horesh when he saw that Saul had come out to take his life. |
| 16Saul's son Jonathan got up and went to David at Horesh, and he encouraged him to trust in God. | 16Then Saul's son Jonathan came to David in Horesh and encouraged him in his faith in God, |
| 17Jonathan told him, "Don't be afraid. My father Saul won't find you, and you will be king over Israel. I'll be your second-in-command. My father Saul also knows this." | 17saying, "Don't be afraid, for my father Saul will never lay a hand on you. You yourself will be king over Israel, and I'll be your second-in-command. Even my father Saul knows it is true." |
| 18The two of them made a covenant in the LORD's presence. David remained at Horesh while Jonathan went home. | 18Then the two of them made a covenant in the LORD's presence. Afterward, David remained in Horesh, while Jonathan went home. |
| 19People from Ziph came up to Saul at Gibeah and informed him, "David is hiding with us in the strongholds in Horesh and on the hill of Hachilah south of Jeshimon, isn't he? | 19Some Ziphites came up to Saul at Gibeah and said, "David is hiding among us in the strongholds in Horesh on the hill of Hachilah south of Jeshimon. |
| 20Now, your majesty, whenever you want to come down, come down, and our part will be to hand him over to the king." | 20Now, whenever the king wants to come down, let him come down. Our part will be to hand him over to the king." |
| 21Saul said, "May you be blessed by the LORD, because you have been gracious to me. | 21"May you be blessed by the LORD," replied Saul, "for you have taken pity on me. |
| 22Go and again make sure, find out and investigate where he is and who has seen him there, for people tell me that he's very clever. | 22Go and check again. Investigate and watch carefully where he goes and who has seen him there; they tell me he is extremely cunning. |
| 23Investigate and find out all the hiding places there where he hides, and return to me with reliable information. Then I'll go down with you, and if he's in the land, I'll search him out among all the thousands of Judah." | 23Look and find out all the places where he hides. Then come back to me with accurate information, and I'll go with you. If it turns out he really is in the region, I'll search for him among all the clans of Judah." |
| 24The people from Ziph got up and left Saul, while David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon in the Arabah south of Jeshimon. | 24So they went to Ziph ahead of Saul. Now David and his men were in the wilderness near Maon in the Arabah south of Jeshimon, |
| 25When Saul and his men went to search for David, some people told David, and he went down to the Rock of Escape and remained in the wilderness of Maon. Saul heard this and he pursued David into the wilderness of Maon. | 25and Saul and his men went to look for him. When David was told about it, he went down to the rock and stayed in the Wilderness of Maon. Saul heard of this and pursued David there. |
| 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 while Saul and his men were closing in on David and his men to capture them. | 26Saul went along one side of the mountain and David and his men went along the other side. Even though David was hurrying to get away from Saul, Saul and his men were closing in on David and his men to capture them. |
| 27Then a messenger came to Saul with this news: "Come quickly, because the Philistines have made a raid on the land!" | 27Then a messenger came to Saul saying, "Come quickly, because the Philistines have raided the land!" |
| 28So Saul turned around from pursuing David and went to meet the Philistines. Therefore, they call that place the Rock of Escape. | 28So Saul broke off his pursuit of David and went to engage the Philistines. Therefore, that place was named the Rock of Separation. |
| 29 David went up from there and stayed in the strongholds of En-gedi. | 29From there David went up and stayed in the strongholds of En-gedi. |
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