1 A nd 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; and Saul will despair of me, to seek me any more in all the borders of Israel: so shall I 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 A nd David arose, and passed over, he and the six hundred men that were with him, unto Achish the 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, even David with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabal's wife.

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 A nd it was told Saul that David was fled to Gath: and he sought no more again for him.

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

5 A nd David said unto Achish, If now I have found favor in thine eyes, let them give me a place in one of the cities in the country, that I may dwell there: for why should thy servant dwell in the royal city with thee?

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 him Ziklag that day: wherefore Ziklag pertaineth unto the kings of Judah unto this day.

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

7 A nd the number of the days that David dwelt in the country of the Philistines was a full year and four months.

David lived in the country of the Philistines for a year and four months.

8 A nd David and his men went up, and made a raid upon the Geshurites, and the Girzites, and the Amalekites; for those nations were the inhabitants of the land, who were of old, as thou goest to Shur, even unto 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 saved neither man nor woman alive, and took away the sheep, and the oxen, and the asses, and the camels, and the apparel; and he returned, and came 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 nd Achish said, Against whom have ye 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.

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 them to Gath, saying, Lest they should tell of us, saying, So did David, and so hath been his manner all the while he hath dwelt in the country of the Philistines.

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 hath made his people Israel utterly to abhor him; therefore he shall be my servant for ever.

And Achish believed David, saying, “He has made the people of Israel hate him. So he will become my servant forever.”