1 Samuel 21-27
Christian Standard Bible
David Flees to Nob
21 David went to the priest Ahimelech(A) at Nob.(B) Ahimelech was afraid to meet David, so he said to him, “Why are you alone and no one is with you?”
2 David answered the priest Ahimelech, “The king gave me a mission, but he told me, ‘Don’t let anyone know anything about the mission I’m sending you on or what I have ordered you to do.’ I have stationed my young men at a certain place. 3 Now what do you have on hand? Give me five loaves of bread or whatever can be found.”
4 The priest told him, “There is no ordinary bread on hand. However, there is consecrated bread,(C) but the young men may eat it[a] only if they have kept themselves from women.”(D)
5 David answered him, “I swear that women are being kept from us, as always when I go out to battle.(E) The young men’s bodies[b] are consecrated(F) even on an ordinary mission, so of course their bodies are consecrated today.” 6 So the priest gave him the consecrated bread,(G) for there was no bread there except the Bread of the Presence(H) that had been removed from the presence of the Lord. When the bread was removed, it had been replaced with warm bread.
7 One of Saul’s servants, detained before the Lord, was there that day. His name was Doeg the Edomite,(I) chief of Saul’s shepherds.
8 David said to Ahimelech, “Do you have a spear or sword on hand? I didn’t even bring my sword or my weapons since the king’s mission was urgent.”
9 The priest replied, “The sword of Goliath the Philistine,(J) whom you killed in the Valley of Elah, is here, wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you want to take it for yourself, then take it, for there isn’t another one here.”
“There’s none like it!” David said. “Give it to me.”
David Flees to Gath
10 David fled that day from Saul’s presence and went to King Achish of Gath.(K) 11 But Achish’s servants said to him, “Isn’t this David, the king of the land? Don’t they sing about him during their dances:
Saul has killed his thousands,
but David his tens of thousands?” (L)
12 David took this to heart and became very afraid of King Achish of Gath, 13 so he pretended to be insane in their presence.(M) He acted like a madman around them,[c] scribbling[d] on the doors of the city gate and letting saliva run down his beard.
14 “Look! You can see the man is crazy,” Achish said to his servants. “Why did you bring him to me? 15 Do I have such a shortage of crazy people that you brought this one to act crazy around me? Is this one going to come into my house?” (N)
Saul’s Increasing Paranoia
22 So David left Gath and took refuge in the cave of Adullam.(O) When David’s brothers and his father’s whole family heard, they went down and joined him there. 2 In addition, every man who was desperate, in debt, or discontented rallied around him, and he became their leader. About four hundred men were with him.(P)
3 From there David went to Mizpeh of Moab where he said to the king of Moab, “Please let my father and mother stay with you until I know what God will do for me.” 4 So he left them in the care of the king of Moab, and they stayed with him the whole time David was in the stronghold.
5 Then the prophet Gad(Q) said to David, “Don’t stay in the stronghold. Leave and return to the land of Judah.” So David left and went to the forest of Hereth.
6 Saul heard that David and his men had been discovered. At that time Saul was in Gibeah, sitting under the tamarisk tree(R) at the high place. His spear was in his hand, and all his servants were standing around him. 7 Saul said to his servants, “Listen, men of Benjamin: Is Jesse’s son going to give all of you fields and vineyards? Do you think he’ll make all of you commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds?(S) 8 That’s why all of you have conspired against me! Nobody tells me when my own son makes a covenant with Jesse’s son.(T) None of you cares about me(U) or tells me that my son has stirred up my own servant to wait in ambush for me, as is the case today.”
9 Then Doeg the Edomite,(V) who was in charge of Saul’s servants, answered, “I saw Jesse’s son come to Ahimelech son of Ahitub at Nob.(W) 10 Ahimelech inquired of the Lord for him(X) and gave him provisions.(Y) He also gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.”(Z)
Slaughter of the Priests
11 The king sent messengers to summon the priest Ahimelech son of Ahitub, and his father’s whole family, who were priests in Nob. All of them came to the king. 12 Then Saul said, “Listen, son of Ahitub!”
“I’m at your service,(AA) my lord,” he said.
13 Saul asked him, “Why did you and Jesse’s son conspire against me? You gave him bread and a sword and inquired of God for him, so he could rise up against me and wait in ambush, as is the case today.”(AB)
14 Ahimelech replied to the king, “Who among all your servants is as faithful as David?(AC) He is the king’s son-in-law, captain of your bodyguard, and honored in your house. 15 Was today the first time I inquired of God for him?(AD) Of course not! Please don’t let the king make an accusation against your servant or any of my father’s family, for your servant didn’t have any idea[e] about all this.”
16 But the king said, “You will die, Ahimelech—you and your father’s whole family!”
17 Then the king ordered the guards standing by him, “Turn and kill the priests of the Lord(AE) because they sided with David. For they knew he was fleeing, but they didn’t tell me.” But the king’s servants would not lift a hand to execute the priests of the Lord.
18 So the king said to Doeg, “Go and execute the priests!” So Doeg the Edomite went and executed the priests himself. On that day, he killed eighty-five men(AF) who wore linen ephods.(AG) 19 He also struck down Nob, the city of the priests, with the sword—both men and women, infants and nursing babies, oxen, donkeys, and sheep.(AH)
20 However, one of the sons of Ahimelech son of Ahitub escaped. His name was Abiathar,(AI) and he fled to David.(AJ) 21 Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the priests of the Lord. 22 Then David said to Abiathar, “I knew that Doeg the Edomite(AK) was there that day and that he was sure to report to Saul. I myself am responsible for[f] the lives of everyone in your father’s family. 23 Stay with me. Don’t be afraid, for the one who wants to take my life wants to take your life.(AL) You will be safe with me.”
Deliverance at Keilah
23 It was reported to David, “Look, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah(AM) and raiding the threshing floors.”
2 So David inquired of the Lord:(AN) “Should I launch an attack against these Philistines?”
The Lord answered David, “Launch an attack against the Philistines and rescue Keilah.”
3 But David’s men said to him, “Look, we’re afraid here in Judah; how much more if we go to Keilah against the Philistine forces!”
4 Once again, David inquired of the Lord, and the Lord answered him, “Go at once to Keilah, for I will hand the Philistines over to you.”(AO) 5 Then David and his men went to Keilah, fought against the Philistines, drove their livestock away, and inflicted heavy losses on them. So David rescued the inhabitants of Keilah. 6 Abiathar son of Ahimelech fled to David at Keilah, and he brought an ephod with him.
7 When it was reported to Saul that David had gone to Keilah, he said, “God has handed him over to me, for he has trapped himself by entering a town with barred gates.” 8 Then Saul summoned all the troops to go to war at Keilah and besiege David and his men.
9 When David learned that Saul was plotting evil against him, he said to the priest Abiathar,(AP) “Bring the ephod.”(AQ)
10 Then David said, “Lord God of Israel, your servant has reliable information that Saul intends to come to Keilah and destroy the town because of me. 11 Will the citizens of Keilah hand me over to him? Will Saul come down as your servant has heard? Lord God of Israel, please tell your servant.”
The Lord answered, “He will come down.”
12 Then David asked, “Will the citizens of Keilah hand me and my men over to Saul?”
“They will,”(AR) the Lord responded.
13 So David and his men, numbering about six hundred,(AS) left Keilah at once and moved from place to place.(AT) When it was reported to Saul that David had escaped from Keilah, he called off the expedition. 14 David then stayed in the wilderness strongholds and in the hill country of the Wilderness of Ziph.(AU) Saul searched for him every day, but God did not hand David over to him.(AV)
A Renewed Covenant
15 David was in the Wilderness of Ziph in Horesh when he saw that Saul had come out to take his life. 16 Then Saul’s son Jonathan came to David in Horesh and encouraged him in his faith[g] in God,(AW) 17 saying, “Don’t be afraid, for my father Saul will never lay a hand on you. You yourself will be king over Israel,(AX) and I’ll be your second-in-command. Even my father Saul knows it is true.”(AY) 18 Then the two of them made a covenant in the Lord’s presence.(AZ) Afterward, David remained in Horesh, while Jonathan went home.
David’s Narrow Escape
19 Some Ziphites(BA) came up to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Isn’t it true that David is hiding among us in the strongholds in Horesh on the hill of Hachilah south of Jeshimon? 20 So now, whenever the king wants to come down, let him come down. As for us, we will be glad to hand him over to the king.”(BB)
21 “May you be blessed by the Lord,” replied Saul, “for you have shown concern for me.(BC) 22 Go and check again. Investigate[h] where he goes[i] and who has seen him there; they tell me he is extremely cunning. 23 Investigate[j] all the places where he hides. Then come back to me with accurate information, and I’ll go with you. If it turns out he really is in the region, I’ll search for him among all the clans[k] of Judah.” 24 So they went to Ziph ahead of Saul.
Now David and his men were in the wilderness near Maon(BD) in the Arabah south of Jeshimon, 25 and Saul and his men went to look for him. When David was told about it, he went down to the rock and stayed in the Wilderness of Maon. Saul heard of this and pursued David there.
26 Saul went along one side of the mountain and David and his men went along the other side. Even though David was hurrying to get away from Saul, Saul and his men were closing in on David and his men to capture them.(BE) 27 Then a messenger came to Saul saying, “Come quickly, because the Philistines have raided the land!” 28 So Saul broke off his pursuit of David and went to engage the Philistines. Therefore, that place was named the Rock of Separation. 29 From there David went up and stayed in the strongholds of En-gedi.(BF)
David Spares Saul
24 When Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines,(BG) he was told, “David is in the wilderness near En-gedi.”(BH) 2 So Saul took three thousand of Israel’s fit young men(BI) and went to look for David and his men in front of the Rocks of the Wild Goats. 3 When Saul came to the sheep pens along the road, a cave was there, and he went in to relieve himself.[l](BJ) David and his men were staying in the recesses of the cave,(BK) 4 so they said to him, “Look, this is the day the Lord told you about: ‘I will hand your enemy over to you so you can do to him whatever you desire.’” Then David got up and secretly cut off the corner of Saul’s robe.
5 Afterward, David’s conscience bothered[m](BL) him because he had cut off the corner of Saul’s robe.[n] 6 He said to his men, “As the Lord is my witness, I would never do such a thing to my lord, the Lord’s anointed.(BM) I will never lift my hand against him, since he is the Lord’s anointed.”(BN) 7 With these words David persuaded[o] his men, and he did not let them rise up against Saul.
Then Saul left the cave and went on his way. 8 After that, David got up, went out of the cave, and called to Saul, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David knelt low with his face to the ground and paid homage.(BO) 9 David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of people who say, ‘Look, David intends to harm you’? 10 You can see with your own eyes that the Lord handed you over to me today in the cave.(BP) Someone advised me to kill you,(BQ) but I[p][q] took pity on you and said: I won’t lift my hand against my lord, since he is the Lord’s anointed. 11 Look, my father!(BR) Look at the corner of your robe in my hand, for I cut it off, but I didn’t kill you. Recognize[r] that I’ve committed no crime or rebellion. I haven’t sinned against you even though you are hunting me down to take my life.(BS)
12 “May the Lord judge between me and you, and may the Lord take vengeance on you for me, but my hand will never be against you.(BT) 13 As the old proverb says, ‘Wickedness comes from wicked people.’(BU) My hand will never be against you. 14 Who has the king of Israel come after? What are you chasing after? A dead dog? A single flea?(BV) 15 May the Lord be judge and decide between you and me. May he take notice and plead my case and deliver[s] me from you.”(BW)
16 When David finished saying these things to him, Saul replied, “Is that your voice, David my son?” (BX) Then Saul wept aloud 17 and said to David, “You are more righteous than I, for you have done what is good to me though I have done what is evil to you.(BY) 18 You yourself have told me today what good you did for me: when the Lord handed me over to you, you didn’t kill me.(BZ) 19 When a man finds his enemy, does he let him go unharmed?[t](CA) May the Lord repay you with good for what you’ve done for me today.
20 “Now I know for certain you will be king, and the kingdom of Israel will be established[u] in your hand.(CB) 21 Therefore swear to me by the Lord that you will not cut off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father’s family.”(CC) 22 So David swore to Saul. Then Saul went back home, and David and his men went up to the stronghold.(CD)
David, Nabal, and Abigail
25 Samuel died,(CE) and all Israel assembled to mourn for him,(CF) and they buried him by his home in Ramah.(CG) David then went down to the Wilderness of Paran.[v](CH)
2 A man in Maon(CI) had a business in Carmel;(CJ) he was a very rich man with three thousand sheep and one thousand goats and was shearing his sheep in Carmel. 3 The man’s name was Nabal, and his wife’s name, Abigail. The woman was intelligent and beautiful, but the man, a Calebite,(CK) was harsh and evil in his dealings.
4 While David was in the wilderness, he heard that Nabal was shearing sheep, 5 so David sent ten young men instructing them, “Go up to Carmel, and when you come to Nabal, greet him[w] in my name. 6 Then say this: ‘Long life to you,[x] and peace to you, peace to your family, and peace to all that is yours.(CL) 7 I hear that you are shearing.[y] When your shepherds were with us, we did not harass them, and nothing of theirs was missing the whole time they were in Carmel.(CM) 8 Ask your young men, and they will tell you. So let my young men find favor with you, for we have come on a feast[z] day.(CN) Please give whatever you have on hand to your servants and to your son David.’”
9 David’s young men went and said all these things to Nabal on David’s behalf,[aa] and they waited.[ab] 10 Nabal asked them, “Who is David?(CO) Who is Jesse’s son? Many slaves these days are running away from their masters. 11 Am I supposed to take my bread, my water, and my meat that I butchered for my shearers and give them to these men? I don’t know where they are from.”
12 David’s young men retraced their steps. When they returned to him, they reported all these words. 13 He said to his men, “All of you, put on your swords!” So each man put on his sword, and David also put on his sword. About four hundred men followed David while two hundred stayed with the supplies.(CP)
14 One of Nabal’s young men informed Abigail, Nabal’s wife, “Look, David sent messengers from the wilderness to greet our master,(CQ) but he screamed at them. 15 The men treated us very well. When we were in the field, we weren’t harassed(CR) and nothing of ours was missing the whole time we were living among them. 16 They were a wall around us, both day and night,(CS) the entire time we were with them herding the sheep. 17 Now consider carefully[ac] what you should do, because there is certain to be trouble for our master and his entire family. He is such a worthless fool nobody can talk to him!”
18 Abigail hurried, taking two hundred loaves of bread, two clay jars of wine, five butchered sheep, a bushel[ad] of roasted grain, one hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of pressed figs, and loaded them on donkeys.(CT) 19 Then she said to her male servants, “Go ahead of me. I will be right behind you.”(CU) But she did not tell her husband, Nabal.
20 As she rode the donkey down a mountain pass hidden from view, she saw David and his men coming toward her and met them. 21 David had just said, “I guarded everything that belonged to this man in the wilderness for nothing. He was not missing anything, yet he paid me back evil for good. 22 May God punish me[ae] and do so severely(CV) if I let any of his males[af] survive until morning.”(CW)
23 When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off the donkey and knelt down with her face to the ground and paid homage to David.(CX) 24 She knelt at his feet and said, “The guilt is mine, my lord, but please let your servant speak to you directly. Listen to the words of your servant. 25 My lord should pay no attention to this worthless fool Nabal, for he lives up to his name:[ag] His name means ‘stupid,’ and stupidity is all he knows.[ah] I, your servant, didn’t see my lord’s young men whom you sent. 26 Now my lord, as surely as the Lord lives and as you yourself live—it is the Lord who kept you from participating in bloodshed and avenging yourself(CY) by your own hand—may your enemies and those who intend to harm my lord be like Nabal.(CZ) 27 Let this gift(DA) your servant has brought to my lord be given to the young men who follow my lord. 28 Please forgive your servant’s offense,(DB) for the Lord is certain to make a lasting dynasty for my lord(DC) because he fights the Lord’s battles.(DD) Throughout your life, may evil[ai] not be found in you.(DE)
29 “Someone is pursuing you and intends to take your life. My lord’s life is tucked safely in the place[aj] where the Lord your God protects the living, but he is flinging away your enemies’ lives like stones from a sling.(DF) 30 When the Lord does for my lord all the good he promised you and appoints you ruler over Israel,(DG) 31 there will not be remorse or a troubled conscience for my lord because of needless bloodshed or my lord’s revenge. And when the Lord does good things for my lord, may you remember me your servant.”(DH)
32 Then David said to Abigail, “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,(DI) who sent you to meet me today! 33 May your discernment be blessed, and may you be blessed. Today you kept me from participating in bloodshed and avenging myself by my own hand.(DJ) 34 Otherwise, as surely as the Lord God of Israel lives, who prevented me from harming you, if you had not come quickly to meet me, Nabal wouldn’t have had any males[ak] left by morning light.” 35 Then David accepted what she had brought him and said, “Go home in peace.(DK) See, I have heard what you said and have granted your request.”(DL)
36 Then Abigail went to Nabal, and there he was in his house, holding a feast fit for a king.(DM) Nabal’s heart was cheerful,[al] and he was very drunk, so she didn’t say anything[am] to him(DN) until morning light.
37 In the morning when Nabal sobered up,[an] his wife told him about these events. His heart died[ao] and he became a stone. 38 About ten days later, the Lord struck Nabal dead.(DO)
39 When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, “Blessed be the Lord who championed my cause against Nabal’s insults(DP) and restrained his servant from doing evil.(DQ) The Lord brought Nabal’s evil deeds back on his own head.”(DR)
Then David sent messengers to speak to Abigail about marrying him. 40 When David’s servants came to Abigail at Carmel, they said to her, “David sent us to bring you to him as a wife.”
41 She stood up, paid homage with her face to the ground,(DS) and said, “Here I am, your servant, a slave to wash the feet of my lord’s servants.”(DT) 42 Then Abigail got up quickly, and with her five female servants accompanying her, rode on the donkey following David’s messengers.(DU) And so she became his wife.
43 David also married Ahinoam of Jezreel,(DV) and the two of them became his wives. 44 But Saul gave his daughter Michal, David’s wife, to Palti(DW) son of Laish, who was from Gallim.(DX)
David Again Spares Saul
26 Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah saying, “David is hiding on the hill of Hachilah opposite Jeshimon.”(DY) 2 So Saul, accompanied by three thousand of the fit young men of Israel,(DZ) went immediately to the Wilderness of Ziph to search for David there. 3 Saul camped beside the road at the hill of Hachilah(EA) opposite Jeshimon. David was living in the wilderness and discovered Saul had come there after him.(EB) 4 So David sent out spies and knew for certain that Saul had come. 5 Immediately, David went to the place where Saul had camped. He saw the place where Saul and Abner son of Ner,(EC) the commander of his army, were lying down. Saul was lying inside the inner circle of the camp with the troops camped around him. 6 Then David asked Ahimelech the Hethite(ED) and Joab’s brother Abishai(EE) son of Zeruiah, “Who will go with me into the camp(EF) to Saul?”
“I’ll go with you,” answered Abishai.
7 That night, David and Abishai came to the troops, and Saul was lying there asleep in the inner circle of the camp with his spear stuck in the ground by his head. Abner and the troops were lying around him. 8 Then Abishai said to David, “Today God has delivered your enemy to you. Let me thrust the spear through him into the ground just once. I won’t have to strike him twice!”
9 But David said to Abishai, “Don’t destroy him, for who can lift a hand against the Lord’s anointed and be innocent?” (EG) 10 David added, “As the Lord lives, the Lord will certainly strike him down:(EH) either his day will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish. 11 However, as the Lord is my witness, I will never lift my hand against the Lord’s anointed.(EI) Instead, take the spear and the water jug by his head, and let’s go.”
12 So David took the spear and the water jug by Saul’s head, and they went their way. No one saw them, no one knew, and no one woke up; they all remained asleep because a deep sleep from the Lord(EJ) came over them. 13 David crossed to the other side and stood on top of the mountain at a distance; there was a considerable space between them. 14 Then David shouted to the troops and to Abner son of Ner, “Aren’t you going to answer, Abner?”
“Who are you who calls to the king?” Abner asked.
15 David called to Abner, “You’re a man, aren’t you? Who in Israel is your equal? So why didn’t you protect your lord the king when one of the people came to destroy him? 16 What you have done is not good. As the Lord lives, all of you deserve to die[ap] since you didn’t protect your lord, the Lord’s anointed.(EK) Now look around; where are the king’s spear and water jug that were by his head?”
17 Saul recognized David’s voice and asked, “Is that your voice, my son David?” (EL)
“It is my voice, my lord and king,” David said. 18 Then he continued, “Why is my lord pursuing his servant? What have I done? What crime have I committed?(EM) 19 Now, may my lord the king please hear the words of his servant: If it is the Lord who has incited you against me,(EN) then may he accept an offering.(EO) But if it is people,(EP) may they be cursed in the presence of the Lord, for today they have banished me from sharing in the inheritance of the Lord, saying,(EQ) ‘Go and worship other gods.’ 20 So don’t let my blood fall to the ground far from the Lord’s presence, for the king of Israel has come out to search for a single flea,(ER) like one who pursues a partridge in the mountains.”
21 Saul responded, “I have sinned.(ES) Come back, my son David, I will never harm you again because today you considered my life precious. I have been a fool! I’ve committed a grave error.”
22 David answered, “Here is the king’s spear; have one of the young men come over and get it. 23 The Lord will repay every man for his righteousness(ET) and his loyalty. I wasn’t willing to lift my hand against the Lord’s anointed, even though the Lord handed you over to me today.(EU) 24 Just as I considered your life valuable today, so may the Lord consider my life valuable(EV) and rescue me from all trouble.”(EW)
25 Saul said to him, “You are blessed, my son David. You will certainly do great things and will also prevail.”(EX) Then David went on his way, and Saul returned home.(EY)
David Flees to Ziklag
27 David said to himself, “One of these days I’ll be swept away by Saul. There is nothing better for me than to escape immediately to the land of the Philistines.(EZ) Then Saul will give up searching for me everywhere in Israel, and I’ll escape from him.” 2 So David set out with his six hundred men(FA) and went over to Achish son of Maoch,(FB) the king of Gath. 3 David and his men stayed with Achish in Gath. Each man had his family with him,(FC) and David had his two wives: Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail of Carmel,(FD) Nabal’s widow. 4 When it was reported to Saul that David had fled to Gath, he no longer searched for him.
5 Now David said to Achish, “If I have found favor with you, let me be given a place in one of the outlying towns, so I can live there. Why should your servant live in the royal city with you?” 6 That day Achish gave Ziklag(FE) to him, and it still belongs to the kings of Judah today. 7 The length of time that David stayed in Philistine territory amounted to a year and four months.(FF)
8 David and his men went up and raided the Geshurites,(FG) the Girzites,[aq] and the Amalekites.(FH) From ancient times they had been the inhabitants of the region through Shur(FI) as far as the land of Egypt. 9 Whenever David attacked the land, he did not leave a single person alive, either man or woman, but he took flocks, herds, donkeys, camels, and clothing.(FJ) Then he came back to Achish, 10 who inquired, “Where did you raid today?” [ar](FK)
David replied, “The south country of Judah,” “The south country of the Jerahmeelites,”(FL) or “The south country of the Kenites.”(FM)
11 David did not let a man or woman live to be brought to Gath, for he said, “Or they will inform on us and say, ‘This is what David did.’” This was David’s custom during the whole time he stayed in the Philistine territory. 12 So Achish trusted David, thinking, “Since he has made himself repulsive to his people Israel, he will be my servant forever.”
Footnotes
- 21:4 DSS; MT omits may eat it
- 21:5 Lit vessels
- 21:13 Lit madman in their hand
- 21:13 LXX reads drumming
- 22:15 Lit didn’t know a thing, small or large
- 22:22 LXX, Syr, Vg; MT reads I myself turn in
- 23:16 Lit and strengthened his hand
- 23:22 Lit Know and see
- 23:22 Lit watch his place where his foot will be
- 23:23 Lit See and know
- 23:23 Or thousands
- 24:3 Lit to cover his feet
- 24:5 Lit David’s heart struck
- 24:5 Some Hb mss, LXX, Syr, Vg; other Hb mss omit robe
- 24:7 Or restrained
- 24:10 LXX, Syr, Tg; MT reads she or it
- 24:10 Or my eye
- 24:11 Lit Know and see
- 24:15 Lit render a verdict for
- 24:19 Lit go on a good way
- 24:20 Or will flourish
- 25:1 LXX reads to Maon
- 25:5 Or Nabal, ask him for peace
- 25:6 Lit ‘To life
- 25:7 Lit you have shearers
- 25:8 Lit good
- 25:9 Lit name
- 25:9 LXX reads and he became arrogant
- 25:17 Lit Now know and see
- 25:18 Lit sheep, five seahs
- 25:22 LXX; MT reads David’s enemies
- 25:22 Lit of those of his who are urinating against the wall
- 25:25 Lit for as is his name is, so he is
- 25:25 Lit and foolishness is with him
- 25:28 Or trouble
- 25:29 Lit bundle
- 25:34 Lit had anyone urinating against a wall
- 25:36 Lit Nabal’s heart was good on him
- 25:36 Lit anything at all
- 25:37 Lit when the wine had gone out of Nabal
- 25:37 Lit Then his heart died within him
- 26:16 Lit you are sons of death
- 27:8 Alt Hb tradition reads Gezerites
- 27:10 Some Hb mss, Syr, Tg; LXX, Vg, DSS read “Against whom did you raid today?”
Psalm 42
Christian Standard Bible
BOOK II
(Psalms 42–72)
Psalm 42
Longing for God
For the choir director. A Maskil of the sons of Korah.
1 As a deer longs for flowing streams,
so I long for you, God.(A)
2 I thirst for God, the living God.
When can I come and appear before God?(B)
3 My tears have been my food day and night,
while all day long people say to me,
“Where is your God?” (C)
4 I remember this as I pour out my heart:(D)
how I walked with many,
leading the festive procession to the house of God,
with joyful and thankful shouts.(E)
5 Why, my soul, are you so dejected?
Why are you in such turmoil?
Put your hope in God, for I will still praise him,
my Savior and my God.(F)
6 I[a] am deeply depressed;
therefore I remember you from the land of Jordan
and the peaks of Hermon, from Mount Mizar.(G)
7 Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls;
all your breakers and your billows have swept over me.(H)
8 The Lord will send his faithful love by day;(I)
his song will be with me in the night—
a prayer to the God of my life.
9 I will say to God, my rock,(J)
“Why have you forgotten me?
Why must I go about in sorrow
because of the enemy’s oppression?” (K)
10 My adversaries taunt me,
as if crushing my bones,
while all day long they say to me,
“Where is your God?” (L)
11 Why, my soul, are you so dejected?
Why are you in such turmoil?
Put your hope in God, for I will still praise him,
my Savior and my God.(M)
Footnotes
- 42:5–6 Some Hb mss, LXX, Syr; other Hb mss read him, the salvation of his presence. 6 My God, I
Psalm 142
Christian Standard Bible
Psalm 142
A Cry of Distress
A Maskil of David. When he was in the cave.(A) A prayer.
1 I cry aloud to the Lord;(B)
I plead aloud to the Lord for mercy.(C)
2 I pour out my complaint before him;
I reveal my trouble to him.(D)
3 Although my spirit is weak within me,
you know my way.(E)
Along this path I travel
they have hidden a trap for me.(F)
4 Look to the right and see:[a]
no one stands up for me;
there is no refuge for me;
no one cares about me.(G)
5 I cry to you, Lord;
I say, “You are my shelter,
my portion in the land of the living.”(H)
6 Listen to my cry,
for I am very weak.(I)
Rescue me from those who pursue me,
for they are too strong for me.(J)
7 Free me from prison
so that I can praise your name.
The righteous will gather around me
because you deal generously with me.(K)
Footnotes
- 142:4 DSS, LXX, Syr, Vg, Tg read I look to the right and I see
The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.
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