¹³ And David said to his men, “Every man strap on his sword!” And every man of them strapped on his sword. David also strapped on his sword. And ^(A)about four hundred men went up after David, ^(B)while two hundred ^(C)remained with the baggage.

¹³ Then David and his men, ^(A)who were about six hundred, arose and departed from Keilah, and they went ^(B)wherever they could go. When Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah, he gave up the expedition.

Hearing and Doing the Word

^19 (A)Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person ^(B)be quick to hear, ^(C)slow to speak, ^(D)slow to anger; ²⁰ for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

¹⁹ Beloved, ^(A)never avenge yourselves, but leave it^[a] to the wrath of God, for it is written, ^(B)“Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” ²⁰ To the contrary, ^(C)“if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” ²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

²¹ Then David came to ^(A)the two hundred men who had been too exhausted to follow David, and who had been left ^(B)at the brook Besor. And they went out to meet David and to meet the people who were with him. And when David came near to the people he greeted them. ²² Then all the wicked and worthless fellows among the men who had gone with David said, “Because they did not go with us, we will not give them any of the spoil that we have recovered, except that each man may lead away his wife and children, and depart.” ²³ But David said, “You shall not do so, my brothers, with what the Lord has given us. He has preserved us and given into our hand the band that came against us. ²⁴ Who would listen to you in this matter? ^(C)For as his share is who goes down into the battle, so shall his share be who stays by the baggage. They shall share alike.”