1 B ut David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than that I should escape into the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will despair of seeking me any more within the borders of Israel, and I shall escape out of his hand.

And David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul: there is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines; and Saul will despair of me to seek me any more within all the limits of Israel, and I shall escape out of his hand.

2 S o David arose and went over with the 600 men who were with him to Achish son of Maoch, king of Gath.

And David arose and passed over, he and the six hundred men that were with him, to Achish, the son of Maoch, king of Gath.

3 A nd David dwelt with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household, and David with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess and Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabal’s widow.

And David abode with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household; David with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jizreelitess, and Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabal's wife.

4 W hen it was told Saul that David had fled to Gath, he sought for him no more.

And it was told Saul that David had fled to Gath; and he sought no more for him.

5 A nd David said to Achish, If I have now found favor in your eyes, let me be given a place to dwell in some country town; for why should your servant live in the royal city with you?

And David said to Achish, If now I have found favour in thine eyes, let them give me a place in some country-town, that I may abide there; for why should thy servant abide in the royal city with thee?

6 T hen Achish gave David the town of Ziklag that day. Therefore Ziklag belongs to the kings of Judah to this day.

And Achish gave him Ziklag that day; therefore Ziklag belongs to the kings of Judah to this day.

7 T he time David dwelt in the Philistines’ country was a year and four months.

And the time that David abode in the country of the Philistines was a year and four months.

8 N ow David and his men went up and made attacks on the Geshurites, Girzites, and Amalekites. For from of old those nations inhabited the land, as one goes to Shur even to the land of Egypt.

And David and his men went up and made a raid upon the Geshurites, and the Gerzites, and the Amalekites: for those were of old the inhabitants of the land, as thou goest to Shur, and as far as the land of Egypt.

9 A nd David smote the land and left neither man nor woman alive, and took away the sheep, oxen, donkeys, camels, and the apparel, and returned to Achish.

And David smote the land, and left neither man nor woman alive, and took away the sheep, and the oxen, and the asses, and the camels, and the apparel, and returned, and came to Achish.

10 A chish would ask, Against whom have you made a raid today? And David would reply, Against the South (Negeb) of Judah, or of the Jerahmeelites, or of the Kenites.

So Achish said, Have ye not made a raid to-day? And David said, Against the south of Judah, and against the south of the Jerahmeelites, and against the south of the Kenites.

11 A nd David saved neither man nor woman alive to bring tidings to Gath, thinking, Lest they should say about us, So did David, and so will he do as long as he dwells in the Philistines’ country.

And David left neither man nor woman alive, to bring to Gath, for he said, Lest they should tell of us, saying, So did David. And such was his custom as long as he abode in the country of the Philistines.

12 A nd Achish believed David, saying, He has made his people Israel utterly abhor him; so he shall be my servant always.

And Achish trusted David, saying, He has made himself utterly odious among his people Israel; and he shall be my servant for ever.