1 ¶ And David said in his heart, In the end I shall be killed some day by the hand of Saul; there is nothing better for me than that I should escape once and for all into the land of the Philistines; and Saul shall despair of me, to seek me any more within the borders of Israel; so shall I escape out of his hand.

But 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.

2 A nd David arose, and he went over with the six hundred men that were with him unto Achish, the son of Maoch, king of Gath.

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

3 A nd David dwelt with Achish at Gath, he and his men, each one with his household, David with his two wives, Ahinoam, the Jezreelitess, and Abigail, who had been the wife of Nabal of Carmel.

And 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.

4 A nd it was told Saul that David had fled to Gath, and he sought him no more.

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

5 A nd David said unto Achish, If I have now found grace in thine eyes, let me be given a place in one of the cities of the land that I may dwell there, for why should thy slave dwell in the royal city with thee?

And 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?

6 T hen Achish gave him Ziklag that day. Therefore, Ziklag pertains to the kings of Judah unto this day.

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

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

The time David dwelt in the Philistines’ country was a year and four months.

8 ¶ And David and his men went up and invaded the Geshurites and the Gezrites and the Amalekites, for these had inhabited the land for a long time, from as thou goest unto Shur even unto the land of Egypt.

Now 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.

9 A nd 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.

And 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.

10 A nd Achish would say, Where have ye raided today? And David would say, Against the south of Judah and towards the Negev of the Jerahmeelites or towards the Negev of the Kenites.

Achish 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.

11 A nd David left neither man nor woman alive, to bring tidings to Gath, saying, Lest they should tell on us, saying, So did David. And this was his manner all the time he dwelt in the land of the Philistines.

And 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.

12 A nd Achish believed David, saying, He is making himself abominable unto his people of Israel; therefore, he shall be my slave for ever.

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