1 Samuel 21:10-15

New International Reader's Version

David at Gath

¹⁰ That day David ran away from Saul. He went to Achish, the king of Gath. ¹¹ But the servants of Achish spoke to him. They said, “Isn’t this David, the king of the land? Isn’t he the one the Israelites sing about when they dance? They sing,

¹² David paid close attention to what the servants were saying. He became very much afraid of what Achish, the king of Gath, might do. ¹³ So he pretended to be out of his mind when he was with them. As long as he was in Gath, he acted like a crazy person. He made marks on the doors of the city gate. He let spit run down his beard.

¹⁴ Achish said to his servants, “Just look at the man! He’s out of his mind! Why are you bringing him to me? ¹⁵ Don’t I have enough crazy people around me already? So why do you have to bring this fellow here? Just look at how he’s carrying on in front of me! Why do you have to bring this man into my house?”