1 Samuel 21:12-14

New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised

¹² David took these words to heart and was very much afraid of King Achish of Gath. ¹³ So he changed his behaviour before them; he pretended to be mad when in their presence.^[a] He scratched marks on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle run down his beard. ¹⁴ Achish said to his servants, ‘Look, you see the man is mad; why then have you brought him to me?