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.

David said to himself, “Some day Saul will kill me. There is nothing better for me than to run to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will become tired of looking for me any more in the land of Israel. And I will get away from him.”

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

So David got up and crossed over with his 600 men 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.

David lived with Achish at Gath, he and his men. Each man had those of his family with him. David had with him his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel, and Abigail of Carmel, who had been Nabal’s wife.

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

When Saul was told that David had run to Gath, he looked for him no more.

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?

Then David said to Achish, “If I have found favor in your eyes, let me be given a place in one of the country towns, that I may live there. For why should your servant live with you in the city of the king?”

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

So Achish gave him the town of Ziklag that day. Ziklag has belonged to the kings of Judah to this day.

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

David lived in the country of the Philistines for 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.

Now David and his men went up to fight the Geshurites, the Girzites and the Amalekites. For they had been living in the land a long time, as you come to Shur, even 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.

David destroyed the land and did not leave a man or a woman alive. He took away the sheep, the cattle, the donkeys, the camels, and the clothing. Then he 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.

Achish said, “Where have you gone to battle today?” And David said, “Against the Negev of Judah, the Negev of the Jerahmeelites, and the Negev 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.

David did not leave a man or woman alive to bring news to Gath, thinking, “They might tell about us. They might say, ‘This is what David has done all the time he has lived 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 believed David, saying, “He has made the people of Israel hate him. So he will become my servant forever.”