| Berean Study Bible | New International Version |
| 1Now it was reported to David, “Look, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and looting the threshing floors.” | 1When David was told, "Look, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and are looting the threshing floors," |
| 2So David inquired of the LORD, “Should I go and attack these Philistines?” And the LORD said to David, “Go and attack the Philistines and save Keilah.” | 2he inquired of the LORD, saying, "Shall I go and attack these Philistines?" The LORD answered him, "Go, attack the Philistines and save Keilah." |
| 3But David’s men said to him, “Look, we are afraid here in Judah; how much more if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?” | 3But David's men said to him, "Here in Judah we are afraid. How much more, then, if we go to Keilah against the Philistine forces!" |
| 4Once again, David inquired of the LORD, and the LORD answered him: “Go at once to Keilah, for I will deliver the Philistines into your hand.” | 4Once again David inquired of the LORD, and the LORD answered him, "Go down to Keilah, for I am going to give the Philistines into your hand." |
| 5Then David and his men went to Keilah, fought against the Philistines, and carried off their livestock, striking them with a mighty blow. So David saved the people of Keilah. | 5So David and his men went to Keilah, fought the Philistines and carried off their livestock. He inflicted heavy losses on the Philistines and saved the people of Keilah. |
| 6(Now Abiathar son of Ahimelech had brought the ephod with him when he fled to David at Keilah.) | 6(Now Abiathar son of Ahimelek had brought the ephod down with him when he fled to David at Keilah.) |
| 7When Saul was told that David had gone to Keilah, he said, “God has delivered him into my hand, for he has trapped himself by entering a town with gates and bars.” | 7Saul was told that David had gone to Keilah, and he said, "God has delivered him into my hands, for David has imprisoned himself by entering a town with gates and bars." |
| 8Then Saul summoned all his troops to go to war at Keilah and besiege David and his men. | 8And Saul called up all his forces for battle, to go down to Keilah to besiege David and his men. |
| 9When David learned that Saul was plotting evil against him, he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod.” | 9When David learned that Saul was plotting against him, he said to Abiathar the priest, "Bring the ephod." |
| 10And David said, “O LORD, God of Israel, Your servant has heard that Saul intends to come to Keilah and destroy the city on my account. | 10David said, "LORD, God of Israel, your servant has heard definitely that Saul plans to come to Keilah and destroy the town on account of me. |
| 11Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me into his hand? Will Saul come down, as Your servant has heard? O LORD, God of Israel, please tell Your servant.” “He will,” said the LORD. | 11Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me to him? Will Saul come down, as your servant has heard? LORD, God of Israel, tell your servant." And the LORD said, "He will." |
| 12So David asked, “Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me and my men into the hand of Saul?” “They will,” said the LORD. | 12Again David asked, "Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me and my men to Saul?" And the LORD said, "They will." |
| 13Then David and his men, about six hundred strong, set out and departed from Keilah, moving from place to place. When Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah, he declined to go forth. | 13So David and his men, about six hundred in number, left Keilah and kept moving from place to place. When Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah, he did not go there. |
| 14And David stayed in the wilderness strongholds and in the hill country of the Wilderness of Ziph. Day after day Saul searched for him, but God would not deliver David into his hand. | 14David stayed in the wilderness strongholds and in the hills of the Desert of Ziph. Day after day Saul searched for him, but God did not give David into his hands. |
| 15While David was in Horesh in the Wilderness of Ziph, he saw that Saul had come out to take his life. | 15While David was at Horesh in the Desert of Ziph, he learned that Saul had come out to take his life. |
| 16And Saul’s son Jonathan came to David in Horesh and strengthened his hand in God, | 16And Saul's son Jonathan went to David at Horesh and helped him find strength in God. |
| 17saying, “Do not be afraid, for my father Saul will never lay a hand on you. And you will be king over Israel, and I will be your second-in-command. Even my father Saul knows this is true.” | 17"Don't be afraid," he said. "My father Saul will not lay a hand on you. You will be king over Israel, and I will be second to you. Even my father Saul knows this." |
| 18So the two of them made a covenant before the LORD. And David remained in Horesh, while Jonathan went home. | 18The two of them made a covenant before the LORD. Then Jonathan went home, but David remained at Horesh. |
| 19Then the Ziphites came up to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Is not David hiding among us in the strongholds at Horesh, on the hill of Hachilah south of Jeshimon? | 19The Ziphites went up to Saul at Gibeah and said, "Is not David hiding among us in the strongholds at Horesh, on the hill of Hakilah, south of Jeshimon? |
| 20Now, O king, come down whenever your soul desires, and we will be responsible for delivering him into your hand.” | 20Now, Your Majesty, come down whenever it pleases you to do so, and we will be responsible for giving him into your hands." |
| 21“May you be blessed by the LORD,” replied Saul, “for you have had compassion on me. | 21Saul replied, "The LORD bless you for your concern for me. |
| 22Please go and prepare further. Investigate and watch carefully where he goes and who has seen him there, for I am told that he is extremely cunning. | 22Go and get more information. Find out where David usually goes and who has seen him there. They tell me he is very crafty. |
| 23Observe and find out all the places where he hides. Then come back to me with certainty, and I will go with you. If he is in the land, I will search him out among all the clans of Judah.” | 23Find out about all the hiding places he uses and come back to me with definite information. Then I will go with you; if he is in the area, I will track him down among all the clans of Judah." |
| 24So they set out and went to Ziph ahead of Saul. Now David and his men were in the Wilderness of Maon in the Arabah south of Jeshimon, | 24So they set out and went to Ziph ahead of Saul. Now David and his men were in the Desert of Maon, in the Arabah south of Jeshimon. |
| 25and Saul and his men went to seek him. When David was told about it, he went down to the rock and stayed in the Wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard of this, he pursued David there. | 25Saul and his men began the search, and when David was told about it, he went down to the rock and stayed in the Desert of Maon. When Saul heard this, he went into the Desert of Maon in pursuit of David. |
| 26Saul was proceeding along one side of the mountain, and David and his men along the other side. Even though David was hurrying to get away, Saul and his men were closing in on David and his men to capture them. | 26Saul was going along one side of the mountain, and David and his men were on the other side, hurrying to get away from Saul. As Saul and his forces were closing in on David and his men to capture them, |
| 27Then a messenger came to Saul, saying, “Come quickly, for the Philistines have raided the land!” | 27a messenger came to Saul, saying, "Come quickly! The Philistines are raiding the land." |
| 28So Saul broke off his pursuit of David and went to meet the Philistines. That is why that place is called Sela-hammahlekoth. | 28Then Saul broke off his pursuit of David and went to meet the Philistines. That is why they call this place Sela Hammahlekoth. |
| 29And David went up from there and lived in the strongholds of En-gedi. | 29And David went up from there and lived in the strongholds of En Gedi. |
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