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1 Samyèl 21-24
Haitian Creole Version
1 Samyèl 21-24
Haitian Creole Version
21 ¶ David ale lakay Akimelèk, prèt la, nan lavil Nòb. Akimelèk soti vin kontre l', li te tou ap tranble. Li di l' konsa: -Poukisa ou vin pou kont ou, san moun avè ou?
2 David reponn li: -Wa a voye m' regle yon bagay pou li. Li di m' pa kite pesonn konnen sa li voye m' fè a. Pou moun ki avè m' yo, mwen ba yo randevou yon kote.
3 Bon, koulye a, kisa ou gen la a pou moun manje? Ban m' senk pen ou nenpòt lòt sa ou genyen.
4 Prèt la di l': -Mwen pa gen pen òdinè la a non. Sèl sa mwen genyen se pen yo mete apa pou Bondye. Mwen ka ba ou li, si ou konnen mesye ou yo pa nan anyen ak fanm depi kèk jou.
5 David reponn li: -Se toujou konsa, lè nou nan misyon, nou pa nan anyen ak fanm menm. Sou pwen sa a, depi m'ap soti ak mesye m' yo, li te mèt pou yon misyon òdinè, mesye m' yo fèt pou toujou nan kondisyon pou yo fè sèvis Bondye, ale wè fwa sa a se pou yon misyon espesyal.
6 Se konsa prèt la pran nan pen yo te mete apa pou Bondye yo, li ba li paske sèl sa li te genyen se pen yo te ofri bay Bondye chak jou a. Yo te fèk wete yo sou tab la devan Seyè a pou yo te mete lòt pen fre.
7 Men jou sa a, Doèg, yon moun peyi Edon, yonn nan domestik Sayil yo, te la tou, paske li te gen yon bèt pou l' te ofri pou Seyè a. Se li ki te chèf tout gadò mouton Sayil yo.
8 David di Akimelèk ankò: -Eske ou gen yon frenn osinon yon nepe la a ou ka ban mwen? Paske, wa a te ban m' lòd pou m' te pati prese prese, mwen pa t' gen tan pran ni nepe mwen, ni ankenn lòt zam.
9 Akimelèk di li: -Mwen gen nepe Golyat, sòlda Filisti ou te touye nan Fon Bwadchenn lan. Men li la dèyè Bwat kontra a, li vlope nan yon moso twal. Si ou vle l', ou mèt pran l'. Se sèl zam ki gen isit la. David di li: -Ban mwen li non! Pa gen pi bon pase l'.
10 ¶ Lèfini, David pati, li sove pou Sayil, l' ale lakay Akich, wa lavil Gat la.
11 Moun wa Akich yo di wa a konsa: -Se pa David sa, wa peyi a? Se pou li medam yo te fè chante yo t'ap chante lè yo t'ap danse a, chante ki di: Sayil desann mil! David desann dimil!
12 Pawòl sa yo te aji anpil sou David. Li vin pè Akich, wa lavil Gat la.
13 Li pran pòz moun fou li devan yo tout. Li aji tankou yon moun fou lè yo mete men sou li. Li pran fè grabji ak dwèt li sou pòt yo, li kite bave koule sou tout bab li.
14 Lè sa a, Akich di moun li yo: -Nou pa wè se yon moun fou? Poukisa nou mennen l' ban mwen?
15 Mwen pa gen kont moun fou avè m' deja? Poukisa nou mennen sa a ankò vin plede fè tenten andedan lakay mwen an?
22 ¶ David kite lavil Gat, li sove, l' al kache nan yon gwòt toupre lavil Adoulam. Lè frè l' yo ak rès fanmi li vin konn sa, yo tout desann al jwenn li la.
2 Lè sa a, tout moun ki te gen pwoblèm, tout moun ki te dwe lajan, tout moun ki pa t' kontan sitiyasyon an vin jwenn li. David vin chèf yo. Te gen katsan (400) gason konsa antou.
3 David kite kote l' te ye a, l' ale lavil Mispa nan peyi Moab. Epi li di wa Moab la: -Tanpri, kite papa m' ak manman m' vin rete isit la lakay ou, jouk mwen rive konnen sa Bondye vle fè avè m'.
4 Se konsa David mennen papa l' ak manman l' lakay wa Moab la. Yo rete la pandan tout tan David te rete kache nan gwòt la.
5 Yon pwofèt yo rele Gad vin di David: -Piga ou rete nan gwòt la. Pati koulye a. Ale nan peyi Jida! David pati vre, l' al nan rakbwa Erèt la.
6 ¶ Sayil menm te lavil Gibeya, chita anba pye tonmaren ki sou mòn lan, avèk frenn li nan men l'. Tout chèf ki t'ap sèvi avè l' yo te kanpe la bò kote l'. Li te pran nouvèl moun te vin konnen kote David ak mesye l' yo te ye.
7 Epi Sayil di chèf ki t'ap sèvi avè l' yo: -Nou menm fanmi Benjamen yo, koute! Eske nou mete nan lide nou David, pitit gason Izayi a, pral ban nou jaden ak pye rezen tou? Eske l'ap fè nou kaptenn ak chèf nan lame li a?
8 Se poutèt sa nou tout n'ap fè konplo sou mwen. Nou yonn pa di m' pwòp pitit gason m' lan te koupe kontra ak David, pitit gason Izayi a? Pa gen yonn nan nou ki pran lapenn pou mwen. Pesonn pa vin di m' pitit gason mwen an ap moute tèt David sou do mwen, yon moun ki t'ap sèvi avè m', epi ki koulye a ap chache mwayen pou li touye m'.
9 Doèg, moun peyi Edon an ki te chèf tout moun k'ap travay ak Sayil yo, di l' konsa: -Mwen te wè David, pitit gason Izayi a lè li t' ale lavil Nòb, lakay Akimelèk, pitit gason Akitoub la.
10 Akimelèk te pale ak Seyè a pou David. Apre sa, li bay David kèk pwovizyon ansanm ak nepe Golyat, sòlda Filisti a.
11 Se konsa, wa a voye rele Akimelèk, prèt la, pitit gason Akitoub la, ansanm ak tout fanmi l' yo ki te prèt tou nan lavil Nòb. Yo tout moute kay wa a.
12 Sayil di Akimelèk: -W'ap tande m', pitit gason Akitoub la? Akimelèk reponn li: -M'ap tande ou wi, monwa!
13 Sayil mande l': -Poukisa ou mete tèt ou ansanm ak David, pitit gason Izayi a, pou nou fè konplo sou mwen? Poukisa ou ba li pwovizyon ansanm ak yon nepe? Poukisa ou pale ak Seyè a pou li? Koulye a, men li leve dèyè m', l'ap chache okazyon pou li touye m'.
14 Akimelèk reponn li: -Nan tout moun k'ap sèvi avè ou yo, pa gen yonn ki renmen ou tankou David. Se bofi ou li ye, li fè pati gad kò ou yo. Tout moun lakay ou respekte l'.
15 Se pa jòdi a premye fwa mwen pale ak Seyè a pou li, mande Bondye padon. Monwa, ou pa bezwen akize ni mwen ni pesonn nan fanmi m' n'ap fè konplo sou ou. Mwen pa konn anyen sou koze sa a, monwa!
16 Wa a di l' konsa: -Akimelèk, yo pral touye ou, ou menm ansanm ak tout fanmi ou yo.
17 Lèfini, li di gad ki te kanpe bò kote l' yo: -Touye prèt Seyè yo. Yo menm tou y'ap fè konplo ak David la. Yo te konnen byen pwòp se sove msye t'ap sove, yo pa di m' anyen. Men gad yo refize leve men yo sou prèt Seyè a pou touye yo.
18 Lè sa a, Sayil di Doèg: -Ou menm, touye prèt yo: Epi Doèg touye yo tout. Jou sa a, li touye katrevensenk prèt Seyè a.
19 Sayil fè touye tout moun ki te rete nan Nòb, lavil prèt yo: fanm kou gason, timoun, ti bebe nan tete, ansanm ak bèf, bourik, ak mouton. Yo touye tout.
20 ¶ Sèl Abyata, yonn nan pitit gason Akimelèk yo, te resi chape kò l'. Li kouri l' al jwenn David.
21 Li rakonte David ki jan Sayil te masakre tout prèt Seyè yo.
22 David di l' konsa: -Depi mwen te wè Doèg, nèg peyi Edon an, la, mwen te konnen li pa t'ap pa di Sayil sa. Se mwen menm ki reskonsab lanmò tout fanmi ou yo.
23 Ou mèt rete avè m'. Ou pa bezwen pè. Koulye a Sayil pral chache touye ni ou ni mwen. Bò kote m', anyen p'ap rive ou.
23 ¶ Yon jou, David vin konnen moun Filisti yo t' al atake lavil Keyila, yo t'ap vòlò tout grenn jaden moun yo te gen sou glasi yo.
2 Lè sa a, David al mande Seyè a: -Eske mwen mèt al atake moun Filisti yo? Seyè a di David: -Ou mèt ale! Atake yo. Delivre lavil Keyila.
3 Men, moun David yo di l' konsa: -Kote nou ye bò isit la nan peyi Jida, nou te pè kont kò nou deja. Sa pral pi rèd pou nou si se pou n' al lavil Keyila pou n' goumen ak lame moun Filisti yo.
4 David tounen al pale ak Seyè a ankò. Seyè a reponn li: -Leve non! Desann lavil Keyila, paske m'ap lage moun Filisti yo nan men ou.
5 Se konsa, David mache sou lavil Keyila avèk tout moun ki te avè l' yo. Li atake moun Filisti yo. Li touye anpil nan yo, epi li pran tout zannimo yo. Se konsa David te delivre moun lavil Keyila yo.
6 Lè Abyata, pitit gason Akimelèk la, te sove al jwenn David, li te desann lavil Keyila avèk Bwat Kontra Bondye a nan men l'.
7 ¶ Yo vin di Sayil David te desann lavil Keyila. Epi Sayil di: -Bondye lage l' nan men m' koulye a. Gade ki jan David al fèmen kò l' nan yon lavil ki gen gwo miray ak gwo pòtay byen solid!
8 Se konsa Sayil fè rele tout lame li a pou y' al goumen, pou yo mache sou lavil Keyila, pou yo sènen David ansanm ak tout moun ki te avè l' yo.
9 Lè David tande Sayil te fè lide vin atake l', li rele Abyata, prèt la, li di l' konsa: -Pote Bwat Bondye a vini!
10 Epi David di: -Seyè, ou menm ki Bondye pèp Izrayèl la, mwen tande yo di Sayil pare pou l' antre lavil Keyila, pou l' kraze l' nèt e se dèyè m' li ye.
11 Eske moun lavil Keyila yo pral lage m' nan men l'? Eske se tout bon Sayil ap desann jan yo di m' li an? O Seyè, Bondye pèp Izrayèl la, tanpri, di m' si se vre? Seyè a reponn: -Sayil ap desann vre!
12 David di li: -Eske moun lavil Keyila yo pral lage m' nan men Sayil? Seyè a reponn: -Y'ap fè l' vre.
13 Se konsa David leve ansanm ak tout moun ki te avè l' yo. Yo te sisan (600) konsa. Yo kite lavil Keyila lamenm, yo pati, yo pran mache san konnen kote yo prale. Lè Sayil vin konnen David te chape soti lavil Keyila, li chanje lide, li pa mache sou Keyila ankò.
14 ¶ David te rete kache nan falèz ki nan dezè Zif la, Sayil menm chak jou t'ap chache l'. Men, Bondye pa janm lage David nan men Sayil.
15 Atousa David te pè toujou paske li te konnen Sayil te soti pou touye l'. David te bò lavil Oreya, nan dezè Zif la.
16 Jonatan, pitit Sayil la, al jwenn li la, li t'ap ba l' kouraj. Li t'ap di l' ki jan Bondye ap toujou la avèk li.
17 Li t'ap di l' konsa: -David monchè, ou pa bezwen pè! Sayil, papa m', p'ap janm ka jwenn ou. Se ou menm ki gen pou wa pèp Izrayèl la. Mwen menm, m'ap vin apre ou. Ata Sayil, papa m', konn sa tou!
18 De mesye yo koupe yon kontra pou yo toujou zanmi devan Seyè a. David rete lavil Oreya, Jonatan ale ale l' lakay li.
19 ¶ Kèk moun nan zòn Zif la moute al jwenn Sayil lavil Gibeya, y' al di l': -Men David kache nan peyi nou an, nan falèz ki bò lavil Oreya, sou mòn Akiya ki nan bò sid dezè Jida a.
20 Nenpòt kilè ou fè lide desann lakay nou, ou mèt desann, n'a mete men sou li pou nou ba ou li.
21 Sayil reponn yo: -Se pou Seyè a beni nou pou sa n'ap fè pou mwen la a.
22 Ale non. Ale wè si se vre. Se pou nou chache konnen byen kote li fè, ki moun ki wè l' la. Paske yo di m' li malen anpil.
23 Chache konnen tout kote li kab kache. Epi lè n'a sèten tout bon, n'a tounen vin jwenn mwen. Lè sa a, m'a desann avèk nou. Si li la toujou nan peyi a, m' aval chache l', menm si m' dwe fouye nan tout rakwen peyi Jida a.
24 Se konsa moun Zif yo leve, yo pran devan wa a, yo pati pou peyi yo. David menm ansanm ak moun li yo te nan dezè Maon an, nan fon ki nan pòsyon sid dezè a.
25 Sayil ak moun pa l' yo mete chache David. Men David vin konn sa. Li desann nan Pas Galèt la, ki nan dezè Maon an. Epi li rete la. Lè Sayil vin konn sa, li desann dèyè David nan dezè Maon an.
26 Sayil ak mesye l' yo t'ap mache sou yon bò ravin lan sou flan mòn lan. David menm ak mesye pa l' yo t'ap mache sou lòt bò a, sou flan mòn anfas la tou. Li t'ap kouri pou l' te ka mete bèl distans ant li ak Sayil ki t'ap pwoche dèyè l'. Sayil te prèt pou mete men sou li.
27 Lè sa a, yon mesaje vin jwenn Sayil, li di l' konsa: -Tounen touswit, paske men moun Filisti yo ap anvayi peyi a.
28 Sayil sispann kouri dèyè David, l' al mache kontre moun Filisti yo. Se poutèt sa yo rele ravin sa a Galèt Separasyon.
29 David menm ale nan falèz Angedi yo, li rete kache la.
24 ¶ Lè Sayil tounen soti fè lagè ak moun Filisti yo, yo vin di l' David te nan dezè Angedi a.
2 Sayil pran twamil (3000) sòlda nan pèp Izrayèl la, sa ki te fò anpil nan fè lagè. Epi li pati al chache David ak mesye l' yo sou solèy leve Wòch Kabrit mawon yo.
3 Li rive devan yon gwòt ki te toupre yon pak mouton bò wout la. Li antre nan gwòt la al fè bezwen li. David menm te kache nan fon gwòt la ansanm ak mesye l' yo.
4 Mesye yo di David konsa: -Men chans ou, men okazyon Seyè a te di l'ap ba ou a. Seyè a te di: L'ap lage lènmi ou la nan men ou, w'a fè sa ou vle avè l'. David leve, li mache tou dousman, li koupe yon moso nan rad Sayil san Sayil pa konn sa.
5 Men apre sa, konsyans David repwoche l' pou ke rad Sayil li te koupe a.
6 Li di moun li yo: -Mande Bondye padon! Mwen p'ap fè bagay konsa sou mèt mwen, moun Bondye chwazi pou wa a. Mwen p'ap janm leve men mwen sou li, paske se Seyè a menm ki te chwazi l' pou wa.
7 David pale ak mesye l' yo pou yo wete lide konsa nan tèt yo. Li pa kite yo fè Sayil anyen. Sayil leve, li soti nan gwòt la, li mache al fè wout li.
8 Lè sa a, David soti dèyè l', li rele l': -Monwa! Monwa! Sayil vire gade dèyè li. David tonbe ajenou, li bese tèt li jouk atè.
9 ¶ Epi li di: -Poukisa w'ap koute moun k'ap di ou m'ap chache fè malè sou ou?
10 Gade, jòdi a ou wè ak je ou ki jan Seyè a te lage ou nan men m' anndan gwòt la. Gen moun ki di m' se pou m' te touye ou. Men, kè m' fè m' mal pou ou. Mwen di mwen p'ap janm leve men m' sou mèt mwen, paske se Seyè a menm ki te chwazi ou pou wa.
11 Gade, papa mwen! Men yon moso ke rad ou nan men m'! Mwen koupe moso ke rad ou, men mwen pa t' touye ou. Koulye a ou konnen, ou wè mwen pa gen anyen dèyè tèt mwen, mwen pa gen ankenn lide mechanste nan tèt mwen. Mwen pa fè ou anyen ki mal. Se ou menm k'ap chache touye m'.
12 Se pou Seyè a jije ant nou de a kilès ki antò! Se pou Seyè a pini ou pou sa w'ap fè m' la a, paske mwen menm, mwen p'ap janm leve men m' sou ou.
13 Jan pwovèb granmoun lontan yo di: Se moun mechan ki fè mechanste! Men mwen p'ap leve men m' sou ou.
14 Dèyè ki moun wa pèp Izrayèl la ye konsa? Dèyè ki moun l'ap kouri konsa? Dèyè yon chen mouri? Dèyè yon ti pis?
15 Seyè a va sèvi nou jij! L'a jije ant nou de a kilès ki antò! Se pou l' mete bouch nan zafè a, pou l' pran defans mwen, pou l' delivre m' anba men ou.
16 ¶ Lè David fin pale, Sayil di: -Se pa vwa David, pitit gason m' lan, sa? Epi li pran kriye.
17 Li di David konsa: -Ou gen rezon. Se mwen ki antò! Ou te aji byen avè m'. Se mwen menm ki te aji mal avè ou.
18 Jòdi a ankò, ou fè m' wè se byen ou vle fè pou mwen paske, atout Seyè a lage m' nan men ou, ou pa touye m'.
19 Lè yon moun jwenn okazyon pou l' mete men l' sou lènmi l', èske l'ap kite l' al fè wout li san li pa fè l' anyen? Bondye va beni ou pou sa ou fè pou mwen jòdi a.
20 Koulye a, mwen konnen ou gen pou ou wa vre. Avèk ou menm wa pèp Izrayèl la, gouvènman an ap kanpe fèm.
21 Men tanpri, pwomèt mwen, nan non Seyè a, ou p'ap touye pitit mwen yo lè m'a mouri, pou non m' pa disparèt nan fanmi papa m'.
22 David pwomèt Sayil li p'ap fè sa. Apre sa, Sayil al lakay li. David menm tounen nan kachèt li ansanm ak mesye pa l' yo.
1 Samuel 21-24
New International Version
1 Samuel 21-24
New International Version
David at Nob
21 [a]David went to Nob,(A) to Ahimelek the priest. Ahimelek trembled(B) when he met him, and asked, “Why are you alone? Why is no one with you?”
2 David answered Ahimelek the priest, “The king sent me on a mission and said to me, ‘No one is to know anything about the mission I am sending you on.’ As for my men, I have told them to meet me at a certain place. 3 Now then, what do you have on hand? Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever you can find.”
4 But the priest answered David, “I don’t have any ordinary bread(C) on hand; however, there is some consecrated(D) bread here—provided the men have kept(E) themselves from women.”
5 David replied, “Indeed women have been kept from us, as usual(F) whenever[b] I set out. The men’s bodies are holy(G) even on missions that are not holy. How much more so today!” 6 So the priest gave him the consecrated bread,(H) since there was no bread there except the bread of the Presence that had been removed from before the Lord and replaced by hot bread on the day it was taken away.
7 Now one of Saul’s servants was there that day, detained before the Lord; he was Doeg(I) the Edomite,(J) Saul’s chief shepherd.
8 David asked Ahimelek, “Don’t you have a spear or a sword here? I haven’t brought my sword or any other weapon, because the king’s mission was urgent.”
9 The priest replied, “The sword(K) of Goliath(L) the Philistine, whom you killed in the Valley of Elah,(M) is here; it is wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you want it, take it; there is no sword here but that one.”
David said, “There is none like it; give it to me.”
David at Gath
10 That day David fled from Saul and went(N) to Achish king of Gath. 11 But the servants of Achish said to him, “Isn’t this David, the king of the land? Isn’t he the one they sing about in their dances:
“‘Saul has slain his thousands,
and David his tens of thousands’?”(O)
12 David took these words to heart and was very much afraid of Achish king of Gath. 13 So he pretended to be insane(P) in their presence; and while he was in their hands he acted like a madman, making marks on the doors of the gate and letting saliva run down his beard.
14 Achish said to his servants, “Look at the man! He is insane! Why bring him to me? 15 Am I so short of madmen that you have to bring this fellow here to carry on like this in front of me? Must this man come into my house?”
David at Adullam and Mizpah
22 David left Gath and escaped to the cave(Q) of Adullam.(R) When his brothers and his father’s household heard about it, they went down to him there. 2 All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered(S) around him, and he became their commander. About four hundred men were with him.
3 From there David went to Mizpah in Moab and said to the king of Moab, “Would you let my father and mother come and stay with you until I learn what God will do for me?” 4 So he left them with the king of Moab,(T) and they stayed with him as long as David was in the stronghold.
5 But the prophet Gad(U) said to David, “Do not stay in the stronghold. Go into the land of Judah.” So David left and went to the forest of Hereth.(V)
Saul Kills the Priests of Nob
6 Now Saul heard that David and his men had been discovered. And Saul was seated,(W) spear in hand, under the tamarisk(X) tree on the hill at Gibeah, with all his officials standing at his side. 7 He said to them, “Listen, men of Benjamin! Will the son of Jesse give all of you fields and vineyards? Will he make all of you commanders(Y) of thousands and commanders of hundreds? 8 Is that why you have all conspired(Z) against me? No one tells me when my son makes a covenant(AA) with the son of Jesse.(AB) None of you is concerned(AC) about me or tells me that my son has incited my servant to lie in wait for me, as he does today.”
9 But Doeg(AD) the Edomite, who was standing with Saul’s officials, said, “I saw the son of Jesse come to Ahimelek son of Ahitub(AE) at Nob.(AF) 10 Ahimelek inquired(AG) of the Lord for him; he also gave him provisions(AH) and the sword(AI) of Goliath the Philistine.”
11 Then the king sent for the priest Ahimelek son of Ahitub and all the men of his family, who were the priests at Nob, and they all came to the king. 12 Saul said, “Listen now, son of Ahitub.”
“Yes, my lord,” he answered.
13 Saul said to him, “Why have you conspired(AJ) against me, you and the son of Jesse, giving him bread and a sword and inquiring of God for him, so that he has rebelled against me and lies in wait for me, as he does today?”
14 Ahimelek answered the king, “Who(AK) of all your servants is as loyal as David, the king’s son-in-law, captain of your bodyguard and highly respected in your household? 15 Was that day the first time I inquired of God for him? Of course not! Let not the king accuse your servant or any of his father’s family, for your servant knows nothing at all about this whole affair.”
16 But the king said, “You will surely die, Ahimelek, you and your whole family.(AL)”
17 Then the king ordered the guards at his side: “Turn and kill the priests of the Lord, because they too have sided with David. They knew he was fleeing, yet they did not tell me.”
But the king’s officials were unwilling(AM) to raise a hand to strike the priests of the Lord.
18 The king then ordered Doeg, “You turn and strike down the priests.”(AN) So Doeg the Edomite turned and struck them down. That day he killed eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod.(AO) 19 He also put to the sword(AP) Nob,(AQ) the town of the priests, with its men and women, its children and infants, and its cattle, donkeys and sheep.
20 But one son of Ahimelek son of Ahitub,(AR) named Abiathar,(AS) escaped and fled to join David.(AT) 21 He told David that Saul had killed the priests of the Lord. 22 Then David said to Abiathar, “That day, when Doeg(AU) the Edomite was there, I knew he would be sure to tell Saul. I am responsible for the death of your whole family. 23 Stay with me; don’t be afraid. The man who wants to kill you(AV) is trying to kill me too. You will be safe with me.”
David Saves Keilah
23 When David was told, “Look, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah(AW) and are looting the threshing floors,”(AX) 2 he inquired(AY) of the Lord, saying, “Shall I go and attack these Philistines?”
The Lord answered him, “Go, attack the Philistines and save Keilah.”
3 But David’s men said to him, “Here in Judah we are afraid. How much more, then, if we go to Keilah against the Philistine forces!”
4 Once again David inquired(AZ) of the Lord, and the Lord answered him, “Go down to Keilah, for I am going to give the Philistines(BA) into your hand.(BB)” 5 So David and his men went to Keilah, fought the Philistines and carried off their livestock. He inflicted heavy losses on the Philistines and saved the people of Keilah. 6 (Now Abiathar(BC) son of Ahimelek had brought the ephod(BD) down with him when he fled to David at Keilah.)
Saul Pursues David
7 Saul was told that David had gone to Keilah, and he said, “God has delivered him into my hands,(BE) for David has imprisoned himself by entering a town with gates and bars.”(BF) 8 And Saul called up all his forces for battle, to go down to Keilah to besiege David and his men.
9 When David learned that Saul was plotting against him, he said to Abiathar(BG) the priest, “Bring the ephod.(BH)” 10 David said, “Lord, God of Israel, your servant has heard definitely that Saul plans to come to Keilah and destroy the town on account of me. 11 Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me to him? Will Saul come down, as your servant has heard? Lord, God of Israel, tell your servant.”
And the Lord said, “He will.”
12 Again David asked, “Will the citizens of Keilah surrender(BI) me and my men to Saul?”
And the Lord said, “They will.”
13 So David and his men,(BJ) about six hundred in number, left Keilah and kept moving from place to place. When Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah, he did not go there.
14 David stayed in the wilderness(BK) strongholds and in the hills of the Desert of Ziph.(BL) Day after day Saul searched(BM) for him, but God did not(BN) give David into his hands.
15 While David was at Horesh in the Desert of Ziph, he learned that[c] Saul had come out to take his life.(BO) 16 And Saul’s son Jonathan went to David at Horesh and helped him find strength(BP) in God. 17 “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “My father Saul will not lay a hand on you. You will be king(BQ) over Israel, and I will be second to you. Even my father Saul knows this.” 18 The two of them made a covenant(BR) before the Lord. Then Jonathan went home, but David remained at Horesh.
19 The Ziphites(BS) went up to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Is not David hiding among us(BT) in the strongholds at Horesh, on the hill of Hakilah,(BU) south of Jeshimon? 20 Now, Your Majesty, come down whenever it pleases you to do so, and we will be responsible for giving(BV) him into your hands.”
21 Saul replied, “The Lord bless(BW) you for your concern(BX) for me. 22 Go and get more information. Find out where David usually goes and who has seen him there. They tell me he is very crafty. 23 Find out about all the hiding places he uses and come back to me with definite information. Then I will go with you; if he is in the area, I will track(BY) him down among all the clans of Judah.”
24 So they set out and went to Ziph ahead of Saul. Now David and his men were in the Desert of Maon,(BZ) in the Arabah south of Jeshimon.(CA) 25 Saul and his men began the search, and when David was told about it, he went down to the rock and stayed in the Desert of Maon. When Saul heard this, he went into the Desert of Maon in pursuit of David.
26 Saul(CB) was going along one side of the mountain, and David and his men were on the other side, hurrying to get away from Saul. As Saul and his forces were closing in on David and his men to capture them, 27 a messenger came to Saul, saying, “Come quickly! The Philistines are raiding the land.” 28 Then Saul broke off his pursuit of David and went to meet the Philistines. That is why they call this place Sela Hammahlekoth.[d] 29 And David went up from there and lived in the strongholds(CC) of En Gedi.[e](CD)
David Spares Saul’s Life
24 [f]After Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, “David is in the Desert of En Gedi.(CE)” 2 So Saul took three thousand able young men from all Israel and set out to look(CF) for David and his men near the Crags of the Wild Goats.
3 He came to the sheep pens along the way; a cave(CG) was there, and Saul went in to relieve(CH) himself. David and his men were far back in the cave. 4 The men said, “This is the day the Lord spoke(CI) of when he said[g] to you, ‘I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish.’”(CJ) Then David crept up unnoticed and cut(CK) off a corner of Saul’s robe.
5 Afterward, David was conscience-stricken(CL) for having cut off a corner of his robe. 6 He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed,(CM) or lay my hand on him; for he is the anointed of the Lord.” 7 With these words David sharply rebuked his men and did not allow them to attack Saul. And Saul left the cave and went his way.
8 Then David went out of the cave and called out to Saul, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground.(CN) 9 He said to Saul, “Why do you listen(CO) when men say, ‘David is bent on harming(CP) you’? 10 This day you have seen with your own eyes how the Lord delivered you into my hands in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared(CQ) you; I said, ‘I will not lay my hand on my lord, because he is the Lord’s anointed.’ 11 See, my father, look at this piece of your robe in my hand! I cut(CR) off the corner of your robe but did not kill you. See that there is nothing in my hand to indicate that I am guilty(CS) of wrongdoing(CT) or rebellion. I have not wronged(CU) you, but you are hunting(CV) me down to take my life.(CW) 12 May the Lord judge(CX) between you and me. And may the Lord avenge(CY) the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not touch you. 13 As the old saying goes, ‘From evildoers come evil deeds,(CZ)’ so my hand will not touch you.
14 “Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Who are you pursuing? A dead dog?(DA) A flea?(DB) 15 May the Lord be our judge(DC) and decide(DD) between us. May he consider my cause and uphold(DE) it; may he vindicate(DF) me by delivering(DG) me from your hand.”
16 When David finished saying this, Saul asked, “Is that your voice,(DH) David my son?” And he wept aloud. 17 “You are more righteous than I,”(DI) he said. “You have treated me well,(DJ) but I have treated you badly.(DK) 18 You have just now told me about the good you did to me; the Lord delivered(DL) me into your hands, but you did not kill me. 19 When a man finds his enemy, does he let him get away unharmed? May the Lord reward(DM) you well for the way you treated me today. 20 I know that you will surely be king(DN) and that the kingdom(DO) of Israel will be established in your hands. 21 Now swear(DP) to me by the Lord that you will not kill off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father’s family.(DQ)”
22 So David gave his oath to Saul. Then Saul returned home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.(DR)
Footnotes
- 1 Samuel 21:1 In Hebrew texts 21:1-15 is numbered 21:2-16.
- 1 Samuel 21:5 Or from us in the past few days since
- 1 Samuel 23:15 Or he was afraid because
- 1 Samuel 23:28 Sela Hammahlekoth means rock of parting.
- 1 Samuel 23:29 In Hebrew texts this verse (23:29) is numbered 24:1.
- 1 Samuel 24:1 In Hebrew texts 24:1-22 is numbered 24:2-23.
- 1 Samuel 24:4 Or “Today the Lord is saying
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