David Defeats The Philistines At Keilah

1 And they sent word to David, saying, The Philistines are fighting against Keilah and taking the grain from the grain-floors.

1 Then they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines fight against Keilah, and they rob the threshingfloors.

1 Then they told David, saying, “Behold, the Philistines are fighting against (A)Keilah and are plundering the threshing floors.”

1 It was reported to David: “Look, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah(A) and raiding the threshing floors.”

1 Someone told David, "Look, the Philistines are fighting at Keilah and are plundering the threshing floors."

2 So David, questioning the Lord, said, Am I to go and make an attack on these Philistines? And the Lord said to David, Go and make an attack on the Philistines so that Keilah may be kept from falling into their hands.

2 Therefore David inquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And the LORD said unto David, Go, and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah.

2 So David (B)inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I go and (a)attack these Philistines?” And the Lord said to David, “Go and (b)attack the Philistines and deliver Keilah.”

2 So David inquired of the Lord:(B) “Should I launch an attack against these Philistines?”The Lord answered David, “Launch an attack against the Philistines and rescue Keilah.”

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 And David's men said to him, Even here in Judah we are full of fear: how much more then if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?

3 And David's men said unto him, Behold, we be afraid here in Judah: how much more then if we come to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?

3 But David’s men said to him, “Behold, we are afraid here in Judah. How much more then if we go to Keilah against the ranks of the Philistines?”

3 But David’s men said to him, “Look, we’re afraid here in Judah; how much more if we go to Keilah against the Philistine forces!”

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 Then David put the question to the Lord again, and the Lord answering said, Up! go down to Keilah; for I will give the Philistines into your hands

4 Then David inquired of the LORD yet again. And the LORD answered him and said, Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will deliver the Philistines into thine hand.

4 Then David inquired of the Lord once more. And the Lord answered him and said, “Arise, go down to Keilah, for (C)I will give the Philistines into your hand.”

4 Once again, David inquired of the Lord, and the Lord answered him: “Go at once to Keilah, for I will hand the Philistines over to you.”(C)

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."

5 So David and his men went to Keilah, and had a fight with the Philistines, and took away their cattle, and put them to the sword with great destruction. So David was the saviour of the people of Keilah.

5 So David and his men went to Keilah, and fought with the Philistines, and brought away their cattle, and smote them with a great slaughter. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.

5 So David and his men went to Keilah and fought with the Philistines; and he led away their livestock and struck them with a great slaughter. Thus David delivered the inhabitants of Keilah.

5 Then David and his men went to Keilah, fought against the Philistines, drove their livestock away, and inflicted heavy losses on them. So David rescued the inhabitants of Keilah.

5 David and his men went to Keilah and fought the Philistines. He carried off their livestock and defeated them decisively, and so David delivered the inhabitants of Keilah.

David Flees From Saul At Keilah

6 Now when Abiathar, the son of Ahimelech, went in flight to David, he came down to Keilah with the ephod in his hand.

6 And it came to pass, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah, that he came down with an ephod in his hand.

6 Now it came about, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech (D)fled to David at Keilah, that he came down with an ephod in his hand.

6 Abiathar son of Ahimelech fled to David at Keilah, and he brought an ephod with him.

6 Now when Ahimelech's son Abiathar had fled to David in Keilah, the ephod had come down with him.

Saul Chases David

7 And news was given to Saul that David had come to Keilah. And Saul said, Now God has given him into my hands; for by going into a walled town with locked doors, he has let himself be shut in.

7 And it was told Saul that David was come to Keilah. And Saul said, God hath delivered him into mine hand; for he is shut in, by entering into a town that hath gates and bars.

7 When it was told Saul that David had come to Keilah, Saul said, “God has (c)delivered him into my hand, for he shut himself in by entering a city with double gates and bars.”

7 When it was reported to Saul that David had gone to Keilah, he said, “God has handed him over to me, for he has trapped himself by entering a town with barred gates.”

7 It was reported to Saul that David had come to Keilah, and Saul said, "The LORD has delivered him into my hand because he has shut himself in by going into a town with double gates and bars."

8 And Saul sent for all the people to come to the fight, and go down to Keilah to make an attack on David and his men.

8 And Saul called all the people together to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men.

8 So Saul summoned all the people for war, to go down to Keilah to besiege David and his men.

8 Then Saul summoned all the troops to go to war at Keilah and besiege David and his men.

8 Saul summoned for battle all his forces to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men.

9 And it was clear to David that Saul had evil designs against him, and he said to Abiathar the priest, Come here with the ephod.

9 And David knew that Saul secretly practised mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring hither the ephod.

9 Now David knew that Saul was plotting evil against him; so he said to (E)Abiathar the priest, “(F)Bring the ephod here.”

9 When David learned that Saul was plotting evil against him, he said to Abiathar the priest,(D) “Bring the ephod.”(E)

9 David knew that Saul was devising evil plans against him, and so he told Abiathar the priest, "Bring the ephod."

10 Then David said, O Lord, the God of Israel, news has been given to your servant that it is Saul's purpose to come to Keilah and send destruction on the town because of me.

10 Then said David, O LORD God of Israel, thy servant hath certainly heard that Saul seeketh to come to Keilah, to destroy the city for my sake.

10 Then David said, “O Lord God of Israel, Your servant has heard for certain that Saul is seeking to come to Keilah to destroy the city on my account.

10 Then David said, “Lord God of Israel, Your servant has heard that Saul intends to come to Keilah and destroy the town because of me.

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 And now, is it true, as they have said to me, that Saul is coming? O Lord, the God of Israel, give ear to your servant, and say if these things are so. And the Lord said, He is coming down.

11 Will the men of Keilah deliver me up into his hand? will Saul come down, as thy servant hath heard? O LORD God of Israel, I beseech thee, tell thy servant. And the LORD said, He will come down.

11 Will the men of Keilah surrender me into his hand? 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.”

11 Will the citizens of Keilah hand me over to him? Will Saul come down as Your servant has heard? Lord God of Israel, please tell Your servant.”The Lord answered, “He will come down.”

11 Will the people of Keilah hand me over to him? 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 men of Keilah give me and my men up to Saul? and the Lord said, They will give you up.

12 Then said David, Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul? And the LORD said, They will deliver thee up.

12 Then David said, “Will the men of Keilah surrender me and my men into the hand of Saul?” And the Lord said, “(G)They will surrender you.”

12 Then David asked, “Will the citizens of Keilah hand me and my men over to Saul?”“They will,”(F) the Lord responded.

12 Then David said, "Will the people of Keilah hand me over to Saul?"

David Hides In The Wilderness

13 Then David and his men, about six hundred of them, went out of Keilah, and got away wherever they were able to go. And Saul, hearing that David had got away from Keilah, did not go there.

13 Then David and his men, which were about six hundred, arose and departed out of Keilah, and went whithersoever they could go. And it was told Saul that David was escaped from Keilah; and he forbare to go forth.

13 Then David and his men, (H)about six hundred, arose and departed from Keilah, and they went (I)wherever they could go. When it was told Saul that David had escaped from Keilah, he (d)gave up the pursuit.

13 So David and his men, numbering about 600,(G) left Keilah at once and moved from place to place.(H) When it was reported to Saul that David had escaped from Keilah, he called off the expedition.

13 The LORD said, "They'll hand you over." 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.

David Eludes Saul's Pursuit

14 And David kept in the waste land, in safe places, waiting in the hill-country in the waste land of Ziph. And Saul was searching for him every day, but God did not give him up into his hands

14 And David abode in the wilderness in strong holds, and remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God delivered him not into his hand.

14 David stayed in the wilderness in the strongholds, and remained in the hill country in the wilderness of (J)Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but (K)God did not deliver him into his hand.

14 David then stayed in the wilderness strongholds and in the hill country of the Wilderness of Ziph.(I) Saul searched for him every day, but God did not hand David over to him.(J)

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 slip into Saul's control.

A Renewed Covenant

15 And David was full of fear, in the knowledge that Saul had come out to take his life; and David was in the waste land of Ziph, in Horesh.

15 And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life: and David was in the wilderness of Ziph in a wood.

15 Now David (e)became aware that Saul had come out to seek his life while David was in the wilderness of Ziph at Horesh.

15 David was in the Wilderness of Ziph in Horesh when he saw that Saul had come out to take his life.

15 David was afraid because Saul had come out to seek his life while David was in the wilderness of Ziph at Horesh.

16 And Saul's son Jonathan went to David in Horesh, and made his hands strong in God;

16 And Jonathan Saul's son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God.

16 And Jonathan, Saul’s son, arose and went to David at Horesh, and (f)(L)encouraged him in God.

16 Then Saul’s son Jonathan came to David in Horesh and encouraged him in his faith in God,(K)

16 Saul's son Jonathan got up and went to David at Horesh, and he encouraged him to trust in God.

17 And said to him, Have no fear, for Saul my father will not get you into his power; and you will be king of Israel, and I will be by your side, and my father Saul is certain of this.

17 And he said unto him, Fear not: for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee; and thou shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be next unto thee; and that also Saul my father knoweth.

17 Thus he said to him, “(M)Do not be afraid, because the hand of Saul my father will not find you, and you will be king over Israel and I will be next to you; and (N)Saul my father knows that also.”

17 saying, “Don’t be afraid, for my father Saul will never lay a hand on you. You yourself will be king over Israel,(L) and I’ll be your second-in-command. Even my father Saul knows it is true.”(M)

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 And the two of them made an agreement before the Lord: and David went on living in Horesh, and Jonathan went back to his house.

18 And they two made a covenant before the LORD: and David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house.

18 So (O)the two of them made a covenant before the Lord; and David stayed at Horesh while Jonathan went to his house.

18 Then the two of them made a covenant in the Lord’s presence.(N) Afterward, David remained in Horesh, while Jonathan went home.

18 The two of them made a covenant in the LORD's presence. David remained at Horesh while Jonathan went home.

David's Narrow Escape

19 Then the Ziphites came up to Gibeah to see Saul, and said, Is not David living secretly among us in the strong places in Horesh, in the hill of Hachilah to the south of the waste land

19 Then came up the Ziphites to Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself with us in strong holds in the wood, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of Jeshimon?

19 Then (P)Ziphites came up to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “Is David not hiding with us in the strongholds at Horesh, on (Q)the hill of Hachilah, which is on the (g)south of (h)Jeshimon?

19 Some Ziphites(O) came up to Saul at Gibeah and said, “David is(a) hiding among us in the strongholds in Horesh on the hill of Hachilah south of Jeshimon.

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 So now, O king, have your soul's desire and come down, and we, for our part, will give him up into the king's hands.

20 Now therefore, O king, come down according to all the desire of thy soul to come down; and our part shall be to deliver him into the king's hand.

20 Now then, O king, come down according to all the desire of your soul to (i)do so; and (R)our part shall be to surrender him into the king’s hand.”

20 Now, whenever the king wants to come down, let him come down. Our part will be to hand him over to the king.”(P)

20 Now, your majesty, whenever you want to come down, come down, and our part will be to hand him over to the king."

21 And Saul said, The Lord's blessing will be yours, for you have had pity on me

21 And Saul said, Blessed be ye of the LORD; for ye have compassion on me.

21 Saul said, “May you be blessed of the Lord, (S)for you have had compassion on me.

21 “May you be blessed by the Lord,” replied Saul, “for you have taken pity on me.(Q)

21 Saul said, "May you be blessed by the LORD, because you have been gracious to me.

22 Go now, and take more steps, and see where he is living: for they say that he is expert in deceit.

22 Go, I pray you, prepare yet, and know and see his place where his haunt is, and who hath seen him there: for it is told me that he dealeth very subtilly.

22 Go now, make more sure, and investigate and see his place where his (j)haunt is, and who has seen him there; for I am told that he is very cunning.

22 Go and check again. Investigate and watch carefully where he goes(b) and who has seen him there; they tell me he is extremely cunning.

22 Go and again make sure, find out and investigate where he is and who has seen him there, for people tell me that he's very clever.

23 So take care to get knowledge of all the secret places where he is taking cover, and be certain to come back to me, and I will go with you: and without doubt, if he is anywhere in the land, I will get him, among all the families of Judah.

23 See therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking places where he hideth himself, and come ye again to me with the certainty, and I will go with you: and it shall come to pass, if he be in the land, that I will search him out throughout all the thousands of Judah.

23 So look, and learn about all the hiding places where he hides himself and return to me with certainty, and I will go with you; and if he is in the land, I will search him out among all the thousands of Judah.”

23 Look and find out all the places where he hides. Then come back to me with accurate information, and I’ll go with you. If it turns out he really is in the region, I’ll search for him among all the clans(c) of Judah.”

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 And they went back and came to Ziph before Saul: but David and his men were in the waste land of Maon, in the dry land south of the waste land.

24 And they arose, and went to Ziph before Saul: but David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the plain on the south of Jeshimon.

24 Then they arose and went to Ziph before Saul. Now David and his men were in the wilderness of (T)Maon, in the Arabah to the (k)south of (l)Jeshimon.

24 So they went to Ziph ahead of Saul.Now David and his men were in the wilderness near Maon(R) in the Arabah south of Jeshimon,

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.

David In The Desert Of Maon

25 And Saul and his men went in search of him. And David had word of it, so he came down to the rock in the waste land of Maon. And Saul, hearing of this, went after David into the waste land of Maon.

25 Saul also and his men went to seek him. And they told David: wherefore he came down into a rock, and abode in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon.

25 When Saul and his men went to seek him, they told David, and he came down to the rock and stayed in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard it, he pursued David in the wilderness of Maon.

25 and Saul and his men went to look for him. When David was told about it, he went down to the rock and stayed in the Wilderness of Maon. Saul heard of this and pursued David there.

25 When Saul and his men went to search for David, some people told David, and he went down to the Rock of Escape and remained in the wilderness of Maon. Saul heard this and he pursued David into the wilderness of Maon.

26 And Saul and his men went on one side of the mountain, and David and his men went on the other: and David's purpose was to get away as quickly as possible, for fear of Saul; for Saul and his men were making a circle round David and his men in order to take them.

26 And Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain: and David made haste to get away for fear of Saul; for Saul and his men compassed David and his men round about to take them.

26 Saul went on one side of the mountain, and David and his men on the other side of the mountain; and David was hurrying to get away from Saul, for Saul and his men (U)were surrounding David and his men to seize them.

26 Saul went along one side of the mountain and David and his men went along the other side. Even though David was hurrying to get away from Saul, Saul and his men were closing in on David and his men to capture them.(S)

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 But a man came to Saul saying, Be quick and come; for the Philistines have made an attack on the land.

27 But there came a messenger unto Saul, saying, Haste thee, and come; for the Philistines have invaded the land.

27 But a messenger came to Saul, saying, “Hurry and come, for the Philistines have made a raid on the land.”

27 Then a messenger came to Saul saying, “Come quickly, because the Philistines have raided the land!”

27 Then a messenger came to Saul with this news: "Come quickly, because the Philistines have made a raid on the land!"

28 So turning back from going after David, Saul went against the Philistines: so that place was named Sela-hammah-lekoth.

28 Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines: therefore they called that place Selahammahlekoth.

28 So Saul returned from pursuing David and went to meet the Philistines; therefore they called that place (m)the Rock of Escape.

28 So Saul broke off his pursuit of David and went to engage the Philistines. Therefore, that place was named the Rock of Separation.

28 So Saul turned around from pursuing David and went to meet the Philistines. Therefore, they call that place the Rock of Escape.

29 And from there, David went up and took cover in the safe place of En-gedi.

29 And David went up from thence, and dwelt in strong holds at Engedi.

29 (n)David went up from there and stayed in the strongholds of (V)Engedi.

29 (d)From there David went up and stayed in the strongholds of En-gedi.(T)

29 David went up from there and stayed in the strongholds of En-gedi.

Basic English, produced by Mr C. K. Ogden of the Orthological Institute - public domain

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers.

International Standard Version Copyright © 1996-2008 by the ISV Foundation.

King James Version Public Domain

New American Standard Bible Copyright ©1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org