Old/New Testament
David at the Cave of Adullam
22 David left from there and escaped to the Cave of Adullam. His brothers and all his father’s family heard about this and went down to him there. 2 Everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was malcontent[a] gathered around him, and he became their leader. There were about 400 men with him.
David Seeks Protection for His Family
3 David went from there to Mizpah of Moab, and he told the king of Moab, “Please let my father and mother come and stay with you[b] until I know what God is going to do for me.” 4 David left them with the king of Moab, and they stayed with him all the time David was in the stronghold.
5 The prophet Gad told David, “Don’t remain in the stronghold. Go and enter the territory of Judah.” So David left and went into the forest of Hereth.
Doeg the Edomite Reports to Saul
6 When Saul heard that David and the men who were with him had been found,[c] he[d] was sitting in Gibeah, under the tamarisk tree on the hill, with his spear in his hand. All his officials[e] were standing around him. 7 Saul told his officials who were standing around him, “Listen, men of Benjamin! Will Jesse’s son also give fields and vineyards to all of you? Will he make all of you officers over thousands and officers over hundreds? 8 But all of you have conspired against me, and no one tells me[f] about my son’s covenant[g] with Jesse’s son. None of you feels sorry for me and tells me that my son has stirred up my servant against me to lie in wait, as he’s doing[h] this day.”
9 Then Doeg the Edomite, who was in charge of Saul’s servants answered: “I saw Jesse’s son coming to Nob to Ahitub’s son Ahimelech. 10 Ahimelech[i] inquired of the Lord for him, gave him provisions, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.”
Saul Orders the Execution of the Priests
11 The king sent for Ahitub’s son Ahimelech the priest and for all his father’s family who were priests at Nob. All of them came to the king. 12 Saul said, “Listen, son of Ahitub!”
And he said, “Here I am, your majesty.”
13 Then Saul[j] asked him, “Why have you conspired against me—you and Jesse’s son—by giving him food and a sword, and by inquiring of God for him, so he can rise up against me to lie in wait, as he’s doing[k] today?”
14 Ahimelech answered the king, “Who among all your officials[l] is as faithful as David? He is the king’s son-in-law, the captain of your bodyguard, and he’s honored in your household. 15 Is today the first time I inquired of God for him? Absolutely not! The king shouldn’t accuse his servant, or any of my father’s family of anything, because your servant didn’t know anything at all[m] about this.”
16 The king said, “Ahimelech, you will surely die, you and all your father’s family!” 17 The king told the guards, who were standing beside him, “Turn and kill the priests of the Lord because they supported David,[n] and because they knew he was fleeing, but didn’t inform me.”[o] But the officials of the king did not want to lift their hands[p] to attack the priests of the Lord.
18 Then the king told Doeg, “You turn and attack the priests.” Doeg the Edomite turned and attacked the priests. That day he killed eighty-five men who carry the linen ephod.[q] 19 He attacked the priestly town of Nob with the sword. Men and women, children and infants, oxen, donkeys and sheep were put to the sword.
Abiathar Takes the Ephod to David
20 One man, Ahimelech’s son Abiathar, a grandson of Ahitub, escaped and fled to David. 21 Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the priests of the Lord. 22 David told Abiathar, “I knew on that day when Doeg the Edomite was there that he would certainly tell Saul! I’m responsible for the deaths of your father’s whole family. 23 Stay with me, and don’t be afraid because the one who seeks my life, seeks your life. Indeed, you will be safe with me.”
David Delivers Keilah
23 Someone[r] told David, “Look, the Philistines are fighting at Keilah and are plundering the threshing floors.”
2 David inquired of the Lord: “Shall I go and strike down these Philistines?”
The Lord told David, “Go strike down the Philistines and deliver Keilah.”
3 David’s men told him, “Look, we’re afraid here in Judah. How much then, if we go to Keilah against the Philistine army?”
4 David inquired of the Lord again, and the Lord answered him: “Get up, go down to Keilah. I’ll give the Philistines into your control.”[s] 5 David and his men went to Keilah and fought the Philistines. He carried off their livestock and defeated them decisively,[t] and so David delivered the inhabitants of Keilah. 6 Now when Ahimelech’s son Abiathar had fled to David in Keilah, the ephod[u] had come down with him.
7 It was reported to Saul that David had come to Keilah, and Saul said, “The Lord has delivered[v] him into my hand because he has shut himself in by going into a town with double gates and bars.” 8 Saul summoned for battle all his forces[w] to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men.
9 David knew that Saul was devising evil plans against him, and so he told Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod.”
10 David said, “Lord God of Israel. Your servant has definitely heard that Saul intends to come to Keilah to destroy the town because of me. 11 Will the people of Keilah hand me over to him?[x] Will Saul come down just as your servant has heard? Lord God of Israel, please inform your servant.”
The Lord said, “He will come down.”
12 Then David said, “Will the people of Keilah hand me over to Saul?”[y]
The Lord said, “They’ll hand you over.” 13 David and his men, about 600 strong, got up and left Keilah. They moved around wherever they could go. Saul was advised that David had escaped from Keilah, so he stopped the campaign.[z]
Jonathan Visits David
14 David stayed in the wilderness in the strongholds, and he lived in the hill country in the wilderness of Ziph. Saul sought him every day, but God did not let David[aa] slip into Saul’s[ab] control. 15 David was afraid because[ac] Saul had come out to seek his life while David was in the wilderness of Ziph at Horesh. 16 Saul’s son Jonathan got up and went to David at Horesh, and he encouraged him to trust[ad] in God. 17 Jonathan told him, “Don’t be afraid. My father Saul won’t find you, and you will be king over Israel. I’ll be your second-in-command. My father Saul also knows this.” 18 The two of them made a covenant[ae] in the Lord’s presence. David remained at Horesh while Jonathan went home.
The People of Ziph Betray David
19 People from Ziph came up to Saul at Gibeah and informed him, “David is hiding with us in the strongholds in Horesh and on the hill of Hachilah south of Jeshimon, isn’t he? 20 Now, your majesty, whenever you want to come down,[af] come down, and our part will be to hand him over to the king.”
21 Saul said, “May you be blessed by the Lord, because you have been gracious to me. 22 Go and again make sure, find out and investigate where he is[ag] and who has seen him there, for people tell me that he’s very clever. 23 Investigate and find out all the hiding places there where he hides, and return to me with reliable information. Then I’ll go down with you, and if he’s in the land, I’ll search him out among all the thousands of Judah.” 24 The people from Ziph got up and left Saul, while David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon in the Arabah south of Jeshimon.
25 When Saul and his men went to search for David,[ah] some people[ai] told David, and he went down to the Rock of Escape[aj] and remained in the wilderness of Maon. Saul heard this and he pursued David into the wilderness of Maon. 26 Saul went on one side of the mountain while David and his men went on the other side of the mountain. David was hurrying to get away from Saul while Saul and his men were closing in on David and his men to capture them.
27 Then a messenger came to Saul with this news: “Come quickly, because the Philistines have made a raid on the land!” 28 So Saul turned around from pursuing David and went to meet the Philistines. Therefore, they call that place the Rock of Escape. 29 [ak]David went up from there and stayed in the strongholds of En-gedi.
David Spares Saul’s Life
24 [al]When Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told,[am] “Look, David is in the wilderness of En-gedi.” 2 Saul took 3,000 of his best troops[an] from all over Israel, and he went to look for David and his men in the direction of the Rocks of the Wild Goats. 3 He came to the sheepfolds beside the road. There was a cave there, and Saul went in to relieve himself.[ao] Now David and his men were sitting in the inner recesses[ap] of the cave.
4 David’s men told him, “Look, today is the day about which the Lord spoke to you when he said,[aq] ‘I’ll give your enemy into your hand.’ Do to him whatever you want!”
David rose and stealthily cut off the corner of Saul’s robe. 5 Afterwards, David’s conscience bothered him because he had cut off the corner of Saul’s robe. 6 He told his men, “God forbid that I should do this thing to your majesty, the Lord’s anointed, by stretching out my hand against him, since he’s the Lord’s anointed.” 7 David restrained his men with his[ar] words and did not allow them to rebel against Saul. Saul got up from the cave and started off.[as]
David Rebukes Saul
8 Then David got up, went out of the cave, and called out to Saul: “Your majesty!”[at] Saul looked behind him, and David bowed down with his face to the ground and prostrated himself. 9 Then David told Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of those who say, ‘Look, David is trying to harm you?’ 10 Look, this very day you saw with your own eyes[au] that the Lord gave you into my control in the cave, and one of my men[av] told me to kill you, but I had pity[aw] on you and responded, ‘I won’t lift my hand against his majesty because he’s the Lord’s anointed.’ 11 Look, my father, look! The corner of your robe is in my hand. Indeed, by my cutting off the corner of your robe and not killing you, you may know and understand that I have no evil intent or transgression—I haven’t wronged you, even though you are hunting me to take my life. 12 May the Lord judge between me and you, and may he take vengeance on you for me, but I won’t be attacking you. 13 Just like the ancient proverb says, ‘From wicked people comes wickedness,’ but I’m not against you. 14 After whom is the king of Israel going out? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog or a single flea? 15 May the Lord act as judge, and may he decide between me and you. May he see, may he plead my case, and may he vindicate me in this dispute against you.”[ax]
Saul’s Apparent Repentance
16 When David had finished saying these things to Saul, Saul asked, “Is this your voice, my son David?” Then Saul cried loudly 17 to David, “You are more righteous than I am, because you have treated me well even though I’ve treated you poorly. 18 You have explained how you treated me well, in that the Lord delivered me into your hand but you didn’t kill me. 19 For who would find his enemy and then send him away safely?[ay] May the Lord repay you for what you have done for me today. 20 Now I know for certain that you will be king, and that the kingdom will be established under your authority.[az] 21 Now swear to me by the Lord that you will never eliminate my descendants after me, and that you won’t erase my name from my father’s family.” 22 David made this vow to Saul, and then Saul went home, while David and his men went up to the stronghold.
A Warning against Hypocrisy
12 Meanwhile, the people[a] had gathered by the thousands and were trampling on one another. Jesus[b] began to speak first to his disciples. “Watch out for the yeast—that is, the hypocrisy—of the Pharisees! 2 There is nothing covered up that won’t be exposed and nothing secret that won’t be made known. 3 Therefore, what you have said in darkness will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered[c] in private rooms will be shouted from the housetops.”
Fear God(A)
4 “But I tell you, my friends, never be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can’t do anything more. 5 I’ll show you the one you should be afraid of. Be afraid of the one who has the authority to throw you into hell[d] after killing you. Yes, I tell you, be afraid of him!
6 “Five sparrows are sold for two pennies, aren’t they? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. 7 Why, even all the hairs on your head have been counted! Stop being afraid. You are worth more than a bunch of sparrows.”
Acknowledging the Messiah(B)
8 “But I tell you, the Son of Man will acknowledge before God’s angels everyone who acknowledges me before people. 9 But whoever denies me before people will be denied before God’s angels. 10 Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the person who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit won’t be forgiven. 11 When people[e] bring you before synagogue leaders,[f] rulers, or authorities, don’t worry about how you will defend yourselves or what[g] you will say, 12 because at that time the Holy Spirit will teach you what you are to say.”
The Parable of the Rich Fool
13 Then someone in the crowd told him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.”
14 But Jesus[h] asked him, “Mister,[i] who appointed me to be a judge or arbitrator over you people?” 15 Then he told them, “Be careful to guard yourselves against every kind of greed, because a person’s life doesn’t consist of the amount of possessions he has.”
16 Then he told them a parable. He said, “The land of a certain rich man produced good crops. 17 So he began to think to himself, ‘What should I do, since I have no place to store my crops?’ 18 Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and I’ll store all my grain and goods in them. 19 Then I’ll say to myself, “You’ve stored up plenty of good things for many years. Take it easy, eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.”’ 20 But God told him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded back from you. Now who will get the things you’ve accumulated?’ 21 That’s how it is with the person who stores up treasures for himself rather than with God.”
Stop Worrying(C)
22 Then Jesus[j] told his disciples, “That’s why I’m telling you to stop worrying about your life—what you will eat—or about your body—what you will wear, 23 because life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. 24 Consider the crows.[k] They don’t plant or harvest, they don’t even have a storeroom or barn, yet God feeds them. How much more valuable are you than birds! 25 Can any of you add an hour to the length of your life[l] by worrying? 26 So if you can’t do a small thing like that, why worry about other things? 27 Consider how the lilies grow. They don’t work or spin yarn, but I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them. 28 Now if that’s the way God clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and thrown into an oven tomorrow, how much more will he clothe you—you who have little faith?
29 “So stop concerning yourselves about what you will eat or what you will drink, and stop being distressed, 30 because it is the unbelievers[m] who are concerned about all these things. Surely your Father knows that you need them! 31 Instead, be concerned about his[n] kingdom, and these things will be provided for you as well.
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