1 Samuel 29

New International Version

Achish Sends David Back to Ziklag

29 The Philistines gathered^(A) all their forces at Aphek,^(B) and Israel camped by the spring in Jezreel.^(C) ²As the Philistine rulers marched with their units of hundreds and thousands, David and his men were marching at the rear^(D) with Achish. ³The commanders of the Philistines asked, “What about these Hebrews?”

Achish replied, “Is this not David,^(E) who was an officer of Saul king of Israel? He has already been with me for over a year,^(F) and from the day he left Saul until now, I have found no fault in him.”

⁴But the Philistine commanders were angry with Achish and said, “Send^(G) the man back, that he may return to the place you assigned him. He must not go with us into battle, or he will turn^(H) against us during the fighting. How better could he regain his master’s favor than by taking the heads of our own men? ⁵Isn’t this the David they sang about in their dances:

“‘Saul has slain his thousands,
and David his tens of thousands’?”^(I)

⁶So Achish called David and said to him, “As surely as the Lord lives, you have been reliable, and I would be pleased to have you serve with me in the army. From the day^(J) you came to me until today, I have found no fault in you, but the rulers^(K) don’t approve of you. ⁷Now turn back and go in peace; do nothing to displease the Philistine rulers.”

⁸“But what have I done?” asked David. “What have you found against your servant from the day I came to you until now? Why can’t I go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?”

⁹Achish answered, “I know that you have been as pleasing in my eyes as an angel^(L) of God; nevertheless, the Philistine commanders^(M) have said, ‘He must not go up with us into battle.’ ¹⁰Now get up early, along with your master’s servants who have come with you, and leave^(N) in the morning as soon as it is light.”

¹¹So David and his men got up early in the morning to go back to the land of the Philistines, and the Philistines went up to Jezreel.

Lamentations 5

New International Version

5 Remember, Lord, what has happened to us;
    look, and see our disgrace.^(A)
²Our inheritance^(B) has been turned over to strangers,^(C)
    our homes^(D) to foreigners.^(E)
³We have become fatherless,
    our mothers are widows.^(F)
⁴We must buy the water we drink;^(G)
    our wood can be had only at a price.^(H)
⁵Those who pursue us are at our heels;
    we are weary^(I) and find no rest.^(J)
⁶We submitted to Egypt and Assyria^(K)
    to get enough bread.
⁷Our ancestors^(L) sinned and are no more,
    and we bear their punishment.^(M)
⁸Slaves^(N) rule over us,
    and there is no one to free us from their hands.^(O)
⁹We get our bread at the risk of our lives
    because of the sword in the desert.
¹⁰Our skin is hot as an oven,
    feverish from hunger.^(P)
¹¹Women have been violated^(Q) in Zion,
    and virgins in the towns of Judah.
¹²Princes have been hung up by their hands;
    elders^(R) are shown no respect.^(S)
¹³Young men toil at the millstones;
    boys stagger under loads of wood.
¹⁴The elders are gone from the city gate;
    the young men have stopped their music.^(T)
¹⁵Joy is gone from our hearts;
    our dancing has turned to mourning.^(U)
¹⁶The crown^(V) has fallen from our head.^(W)
    Woe to us, for we have sinned!^(X)
¹⁷Because of this our hearts^(Y) are faint,^(Z)
    because of these things our eyes^(AA) grow dim^(AB)
¹⁸for Mount Zion,^(AC) which lies desolate,^(AD)
    with jackals prowling over it.

¹⁹You, Lord, reign forever;^(AE)
    your throne endures^(AF) from generation to generation.
²⁰Why do you always forget us?^(AG)
    Why do you forsake^(AH) us so long?
²¹Restore^(AI) us to yourself, Lord, that we may return;
    renew our days as of old
²²unless you have utterly rejected us^(AJ)
    and are angry with us beyond measure.^(AK)