²⁹ And He told them a parable: Look at the fig tree and all the trees;

³⁰ When they put forth their buds and come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and perceive and know that summer is already near.

³¹ Even so, when you see these things taking place, understand and know that the kingdom of God is at hand.

³² Truly I tell you, this generation (^[a]those living at that definite period of time) will not perish and pass away until all has taken place.

³³ The ^[b]sky and the earth (^[c]the universe, the world) will pass away, but My words will not pass away.

³⁴ But take heed to yourselves and be on your guard, lest your hearts be overburdened and depressed (weighed down) with the ^[d]giddiness and headache and ^[e]nausea of self-indulgence, drunkenness, and worldly worries and cares pertaining to [the ^[f]business of] this life, and [lest] that day come upon you suddenly like a trap or a noose;

³⁵ For it will come upon all who live upon the face of the entire earth.

³⁶ Keep awake then and watch at all times [be discreet, attentive, and ready], praying that you may have the full strength and ability and be accounted worthy to escape all these things [taken together] that will take place, and to stand in the presence of the Son of Man.

³⁷ Now in the daytime Jesus was teaching in [^[g]the porches and courts of] the temple, but at night He would go out and stay on the mount called Olivet.

³⁸ And early in the morning all the people came to Him in the temple [^[h]porches or courts] to listen to Him.

27 But David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than that I should escape into the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will despair of seeking me any more within the borders of Israel, and I shall escape out of his hand.

² So David arose and went over with the 600 men who were with him to Achish son of Maoch, king of Gath.

³ And David dwelt with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household, and David with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess and Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabal’s widow.

⁴ When it was told Saul that David had fled to Gath, he sought for him no more.

⁵ And David said to Achish, If I have now found favor in your eyes, let me be given a place to dwell in some country town; for why should your servant live in the royal city with you?

⁶ Then Achish gave David the town of Ziklag that day. Therefore Ziklag belongs to the kings of Judah to this day.

⁷ The time David dwelt in the Philistines’ country was a year and four months.

⁸ Now David and his men went up and made attacks on the Geshurites, Girzites, and Amalekites [enemies of Israel Joshua had failed to exterminate]. For from of old those nations inhabited the land, as one goes to Shur even to the land of Egypt.^(A)

⁹ And David smote the land and left neither man nor woman alive, and took away the sheep, oxen, donkeys, camels, and the apparel, and returned to Achish.

¹⁰ Achish would ask, Against whom have you made a raid today? And David would reply, ^[a]Against the South (Negeb) of Judah, or of the Jerahmeelites, or of the Kenites.

¹¹ And David saved neither man nor woman alive to bring tidings to Gath, thinking, Lest they should say about us, So did David, and so will he do as long as he dwells in the Philistines’ country.

¹² And Achish believed David, saying, He has made his people Israel utterly abhor him; so he shall be my servant always.