Old/New Testament

Religious Leaders Are Killed

22 So David left there and ran to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and all those of his father’s house heard about it, they went down there to him. ² Then everyone who was in trouble, everyone who owed money, and everyone who was not happy with the way he was living, came together to him. He became their captain. There were about 400 men with him.

³ David went from there to Mizpah of Moab. He said to the king of Moab, “I beg of you, let my father and mother come and stay with you until I know what God will do for me.” ⁴ Then he left them with the king of Moab. They stayed with him all the time that David was in his safe place. ⁵ The man who told what will happen in the future, Gad, said to David, “Do not stay in this strong place. Leave, and go into the land of Judah.” So David left and went among the trees of Hereth.

⁶ Now Saul heard that David and the men with him had been found. Saul was sitting in Gibeah under the tamarisk tree on the high place with his spear in his hand. All his servants were standing around him. ⁷ Saul said to his servants who stood around him, “Hear now, you Benjamites! Will the son of Jesse give all of you fields and grape fields? Will he make you all leaders of thousands and hundreds? ⁸ For all of you have made plans against me. No one lets me know when my son makes an agreement with the son of Jesse. None of you is sorry for me or lets me know that my son has caused my servant to be against me and hide and wait, as it is this day.” ⁹ Doeg the Edomite, who was standing by Saul’s servants, said, “I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub. ¹⁰ Ahimelech asked the Lord what David should do. He gave David food and the sword of Goliath the Philistine.”

¹¹ Then the king sent someone to call Ahimelech the religious leader, son of Ahitub, and all those of his father’s family, the religious leaders who were in Nob. And all of them came to the king. ¹² Saul said, “Hear now, son of Ahitub.” He answered, “Here I am, my lord.” ¹³ Saul said to him, “Why have you and the son of Jesse planned against me? Why have you given him bread and a sword, and have asked the Lord what he should do, so he could rise against me and wait in hiding, as it is this day?” ¹⁴ Ahimelech answered the king, “Who among all your servants is as faithful as David? He is the king’s son-in-law. He is captain of the soldiers who keep you safe, and is honored in your house. ¹⁵ Is today the first time that I have asked things of God for him? No! Do not let the king do anything wrong to his servant or any of those of my father’s family. For your servant knows nothing at all about this.” ¹⁶ But the king said, “You will die for sure, Ahimelech, you and all those of your father’s family!” ¹⁷ The king said to the soldiers who stood around him, “Turn and put the religious leaders of the Lord to death. Because they are on David’s side. They knew he was running away, and did not tell me.” But the servants of the king were not willing to go against the religious leaders of the Lord. ¹⁸ Then the king said to Doeg, “You turn and kill the religious leaders.” And Doeg the Edomite turned and killed the religious leaders. That day he killed eighty-five men who wore the linen vest. ¹⁹ Then he destroyed Nob, the city of the religious leaders, with the sword. He killed men and women, children and babies, cattle, donkeys and sheep, with the sword.

²⁰ But Abiathar, one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, got away and ran after David. ²¹ Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the religious leaders of the Lord. ²² David said to Abiathar, “I knew that day when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would be sure to tell Saul. I am to blame for the death of every person in your father’s family. ²³ Stay with me. Do not be afraid. For he who wants to kill me wants to kill you. But you are safe with me.”

David Saves Keilah

23 Then they told David, “See, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah. They are taking the grain from the grain-floors.” ² So David asked the Lord, “Should I go and fight these Philistines?” And the Lord said to David, “Go, fight the Philistines, and save Keilah.” ³ But David’s men said to him, “See, we are afraid here in Judah. How much more then if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?” ⁴ Then David asked the Lord again. The Lord answered him, “Get ready and go down to Keilah. For I will give the Philistines into your hand.” ⁵ So David and his men went to Keilah and fought with the Philistines. He killed many of them and took away their cattle. And David saved the people of Keilah.

⁶ When Abiathar the son of Ahimelech ran to David at Keilah, he came with a linen vest in his hand. ⁷ When Saul was told that David had come to Keilah, he said, “God has given him to me. For he has shut himself in by going into a city with iron gates.” ⁸ Saul called all the men for war, to go down to Keilah to trap David and his men. ⁹ David knew that Saul was planning against him, so he said to Abiathar the religious leader, “Bring the linen vest here.” ¹⁰ Then David said, “O Lord God of Israel, Your servant has heard for sure that Saul is planning to come to Keilah to destroy the city because of me. ¹¹ Will the men of Keilah give me to him? Will Saul come down just as Your servant has heard? O Lord God of Israel, I pray, tell Your servant.” And the Lord said, “He will come down.” ¹² Then David said, “Will the men of Keilah give me and my men to Saul?” And the Lord said, “They will give you up.” ¹³ Then David and his men, about 600, got up and left Keilah. They went where they could go. When Saul was told that David had run away from Keilah, he gave up going there.

David Stays in the Hill Country

¹⁴ David stayed in the safe places in the desert. He stayed in the hill country in the desert of Ziph. Saul looked for him every day, but God did not give David to him. ¹⁵ David saw that Saul had come out to try to kill him. David was in the desert of Ziph at Horesh. ¹⁶ Saul’s son Jonathan went to David at Horesh and gave him strength in God. ¹⁷ He said to him, “Do not be afraid, because my father Saul will not find you. You will be king of Israel, and I will be next to you. My father Saul knows this also.” ¹⁸ So the two of them made an agreement before the Lord. And David stayed at Horesh, and Jonathan went home.

¹⁹ Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “Is not David hiding with us in the strong places at Horesh, on the hill of Hachilah, south of Jeshimon? ²⁰ Now come, O king, as you desire to come. And we will give David into the king’s hand.” ²¹ Saul said, “May the Lord bring good to you. For you have had pity on me. ²² Go and make sure. See where he is, and who has seen him there. For I am told that he is very good at fooling people. ²³ Look and learn about all his hiding places, and return to me with news that is sure. Then I will go with you. If he is in the land, I will find him among all the thousands of Judah.” ²⁴ Then they got up and went to Ziph before Saul. Now David and his men were in the desert of Maon, in the Arabah, south of Jeshimon. ²⁵ Saul and his men went to look for him, and David was told about it. So he went down to the rock in the desert of Maon. ²⁶ Saul went on one side of the mountain, and David and his men on the other side of the mountain. David was in a hurry to get away from Saul. For Saul and his men were closing in upon David and his men to take them. ²⁷ But a man came with news to Saul, saying, “Hurry and come, for the Philistines have come into the land by surprise to fight us.” ²⁸ So Saul returned from going after David, and went against the Philistines. So they called that place the Rock of Getting Away. ²⁹ David went from there and stayed in the strong places of Engedi.

David Did Not Kill Saul

24 When Saul returned from following the Philistines, he was told, “See, David is in the desert of Engedi.” ² Then Saul took 3,000 chosen men from all Israel, and went to find David and his men in front of the Rocks of the Wild Goats. ³ He came to the places where the sheep were kept on the way. There was a cave there, and Saul went in to get rid of his body waste. Now David and his men were sitting farther back in the cave. ⁴ David’s men said to David, “See, this is the day the Lord told you, ‘See, I am about to give the one who hates you into your hand. You will do to him what you think is best.’” Then David got up and cut off a piece of Saul’s clothing in secret. ⁵ After this, David felt guilty in his heart because he had cut off a piece of Saul’s clothing. ⁶ So he said to his men, “May the Lord not let me put out my hand against my leader, for he is the Lord’s chosen one.” ⁷ David stopped his men with these words. He did not let them go against Saul. So Saul stood up and left the cave, and went on his way.

⁸ After this David got up and went out of the cave and called to Saul, saying, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David put his face to the ground, showing much respect. ⁹ David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘David wants to hurt you’? ¹⁰ See, your eyes have seen how the Lord gave you to me today in the cave. Some told me to kill you, but I had pity on you. I said, ‘I will not put out my hand against my leader, for he is the Lord’s chosen one.’ ¹¹ Now, my father, see the piece of your clothing in my hand. I cut off the piece of your clothing but did not kill you. So know and understand that I have no desire to do wrong to you. I have not sinned against you, yet you come wanting to kill me. ¹² May the Lord judge between you and me. May He punish you for your action against me. But my hand will not be against you. ¹³ As the men of long ago said in their wisdom, ‘Out of the sinful comes sin,’ but my hand will not be against you. ¹⁴ After whom has the king come out? After whom are you running? After a dead dog? After a little bug? ¹⁵ May the Lord be the One to judge between you and me. May He see and help me, and save me from you.” ¹⁶ When David had finished speaking to Saul, Saul said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” Then Saul gave a loud cry. ¹⁷ He said to David, “You are more right and good than I. For you have brought good to me, while I have done wrong to you. ¹⁸ You have said today that you have done good to me. The Lord gave me to you and you did not kill me. ¹⁹ If a man finds the one who hates him, will he let him go away safe? May the Lord bring good to you for what you have done for me this day. ²⁰ Now I know that you will be king for sure. The nation of Israel will be made strong under your power. ²¹ So promise to me by the Lord that you will not destroy my children after me. Promise that you will not destroy my name from my father’s family.” ²² David gave Saul his promise, and Saul went home. But David and his men went up to the safe place.

Jesus Teaches His Followers and Thousands of Other People

12 At that time thousands of people gathered together. There were so many that they walked on each other. Jesus spoke to His twelve followers first, saying, “Look out! Have nothing to do with the yeast of the proud religious law-keepers which is pretending to be something it is not. ² For there is nothing covered up that will not be seen. There is nothing hidden that will not be known. ³ What you have said in the dark will be heard in the light. What you have said in a low voice in a closed room will be spoken with a loud voice from the top of houses.

⁴ “I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and then can do no more. ⁵ I will tell you the one to be afraid of. Be afraid of Him Who has power to put you into hell after He has killed you. Yes, I say to you, be afraid of Him!

⁶ “Are not five small birds sold for two small pieces of money? God does not forget even one of the birds. ⁷ God knows how many hairs you have on your head. Do not be afraid. You are worth more than many small birds.

⁸ “Also, I tell you, everyone who makes Me known to men, the Son of Man will make him known to the angels of God. ⁹ But whoever acts as if he does not know Me and does not make Me known to men, he will not be spoken of to the angels of God.

The Sin That Cannot Be Forgiven

¹⁰ “Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven. Whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. ¹¹ When they take you to the places of worship and to the courts and to the leaders of the country, do not be worried about what you should say or how to say it. ¹² The Holy Spirit will tell you what you should say at that time.”

¹³ One of the people said to Jesus, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the riches that our father left us.” ¹⁴ Jesus said to him, “Friend, who has told Me to say who should get what?” ¹⁵ Then Jesus said to them all, “Watch yourselves! Keep from wanting all kinds of things you should not have. A man’s life is not made up of things, even if he has many riches.”

The Picture-Story of the Rich Fool

¹⁶ Then He told them a picture-story, saying, “The fields of a rich man gave much grain. ¹⁷ The rich man thought to himself, ‘What will I do? I have no place to put the grain.’ ¹⁸ Then he said, ‘I know what I will do. I will take down my grain building and I will build a bigger one. I will put all my grain and other things I own into it. ¹⁹ And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many good things put away in your building. It will be all you need for many years to come. Now rest and eat and drink and have lots of fun.”’ ²⁰ But God said to him, ‘You fool! Tonight your soul will be taken from you. Then who will have all the things you have put away?’ ²¹ It is the same with a man who puts away riches for himself and does not have the riches of God.”

Jesus Teaches about the Cares of This Life

²² Jesus said to His followers, “Because of this, I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you are going to eat. Do not worry about your body, what you are going to wear. ²³ Life is worth more than food. The body is worth more than clothes. ²⁴ Look at the birds. They do not plant seeds. They do not gather grain. They have no grain buildings for keeping grain. Yet God feeds them. Are you not worth more than the birds?

²⁵ “Which of you can make yourself a little taller by worrying? ²⁶ If you cannot do that which is so little, why do you worry about other things? ²⁷ Think how the flowers grow. They do not work or make cloth. Yet, I tell you, that King Solomon in all his greatness was not dressed as well as one of these flowers. ²⁸ God puts these clothes on the grass of the field. The grass is in the field today and put into the fire tomorrow. How much more would He want to give you clothing? You have so little faith! ²⁹ Do not give so much thought to what you will eat or drink. Do not be worried about it. ³⁰ For all the nations of the world go after these things. Your Father knows you need these things. ³¹ Instead, go after the holy nation of God. Then all these other things will be given to you.