| NET Bible | New International Version |
| 1The Philistines assembled all their troops at Aphek, while Israel camped at the spring that is in Jezreel. | 1The Philistines gathered all their forces at Aphek, and Israel camped by the spring in Jezreel. |
| 2When the leaders of the Philistines were passing in review at the head of their units of hundreds and thousands, David and his men were passing in review in the rear with Achish. | 2As the Philistine rulers marched with their units of hundreds and thousands, David and his men were marching at the rear with Achish. |
| 3The leaders of the Philistines asked, "What about these Hebrews?" Achish said to the leaders of the Philistines, "Isn't this David, the servant of King Saul of Israel, who has been with me for quite some time? I have found no fault with him from the day of his defection until the present time!" | 3The commanders of the Philistines asked, "What about these Hebrews?" Achish replied, "Is this not David, who was an officer of Saul king of Israel? He has already been with me for over a year, and from the day he left Saul until now, I have found no fault in him." |
| 4But the leaders of the Philistines became angry with him and said to him, "Send the man back! Let him return to the place that you assigned him! Don't let him go down with us into the battle, for he might become our adversary in the battle. What better way to please his lord than with the heads of these men? | 4But the Philistine commanders were angry with Achish and said, "Send the man back, that he may return to the place you assigned him. He must not go with us into battle, or he will turn against us during the fighting. How better could he regain his master's favor than by taking the heads of our own men? |
| 5Isn't this David, of whom they sang as they danced, 'Saul has struck down his thousands, but David his tens of thousands'?" | 5Isn't this the David they sang about in their dances: "'Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands'?" |
| 6So Achish summoned David and said to him, "As surely as the LORD lives, you are an honest man, and I am glad to have you serving with me in the army. I have found no fault with you from the day that you first came to me until the present time. But in the opinion of the leaders, you are not reliable. | 6So Achish called David and said to him, "As surely as the LORD lives, you have been reliable, and I would be pleased to have you serve with me in the army. From the day you came to me until today, I have found no fault in you, but the rulers don't approve of you. |
| 7So turn and leave in peace. You must not do anything that the leaders of the Philistines consider improper!" | 7Now turn back and go in peace; do nothing to displease the Philistine rulers." |
| 8But David said to Achish, "What have I done? What have you found in your servant from the day that I first came into your presence until the present time, that I shouldn't go and fight the enemies of my lord the king?" | 8"But what have I done?" asked David. "What have you found against your servant from the day I came to you until now? Why can't I go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?" |
| 9Achish replied to David, "I am convinced that you are as reliable as the angel of God! However, the leaders of the Philistines have said, 'He must not go up with us in the battle.' | 9Achish answered, "I know that you have been as pleasing in my eyes as an angel of God; nevertheless, the Philistine commanders have said, 'He must not go up with us into battle.' |
| 10So get up early in the morning along with the servants of your lord who have come with you. When you get up early in the morning, as soon as it is light enough to see, leave." | 10Now get up early, along with your master's servants who have come with you, and leave in the morning as soon as it is light." |
| 11So David and his men got up early in the morning to return to the land of the Philistines, but the Philistines went up to Jezreel. | 11So David and his men got up early in the morning to go back to the land of the Philistines, and the Philistines went up to Jezreel. |
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