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 saith unto his heart, `Now am I consumed one day by the hand of Saul; there is nothing for me better than that I diligently escape unto the land of the Philistines, and Saul hath been despairing of me -- of seeking me any more in all the border of Israel, and I have escaped 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 riseth, and passeth over, he and six hundred men who with him, unto Achish 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 dwelleth with Achish in Gath, he and his men, each one with his household, David and his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail wife of Nabal the Carmelitess.

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

And it is declared to Saul that David hath fled to Gath, and he hath not added any more to seek 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 saith unto Achish, `If, I pray thee, I have found grace in thine eyes, they give to me a place in one of the cities of the field, and I dwell there, yea, why doth thy servant dwell 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 giveth to him in that day Ziklag, therefore hath Ziklag been to the kings of Judah till this day.

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

And the number of the days which David hath dwelt in the field of the Philistines days 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 goeth up and his men, and they push unto the Geshurite, and the Gerizite, and the Amalekite, (for they are inhabitants of the land from of old), as thou comest in to Shur and unto 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 hath smitten the land, and doth not keep alive man and woman, and hath taken sheep, and oxen, and asses, and camels, and garments, and turneth back, and cometh in unto 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.

And Achish saith, `Whither have ye pushed to-day?' and David saith, `Against the south of Judah, and against the south of the Jerahmeelite, and unto the south of the Kenite.'

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.

Neither man nor woman doth David keep alive, to bring in to Gath, saying, `Lest they declare against us, saying, Thus hath David done, and thus his custom all the days that he hath dwelt in the fields 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 believeth in David, saying, `He hath made himself utterly abhorred among his people, in Israel, and hath been to me for a servant age-during.'