1 Samuel 23

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	NEW JERUSALEM
1 David received information that the Philistines were attacking Keilah and plundering the threshing floors.	1 News was then brought to David, 'The Philistines are besieging Keilah and plundering the threshing-floors'.
2 So he consulted the LORD, inquiring, "Shall I go and defeat these Philistines?" The LORD answered, "Go, for you will defeat the Philistines and rescue Keilah."	2 David consulted Yahweh, 'Shal I go and fight these Philistines?' Yahweh replied to David, 'Go andfight the Philistines and save Keilah.'
3 But David's men said to him: "We are afraid here in Judah. How much more so if we go to Keilah against the forces of the Philistines!"	3 But David's men said to him, 'We are already afraid here in Judah; how much more, then, if we go toKeilah to fight the Philistine troops!'
4 Again David consulted the LORD, who answered, "Go down to Keilah, for I will deliver the Philistines into your power."	4 So David consulted Yahweh again and Yahweh replied, 'Be on your way; go down to Keilah, since Ishall give the Philistines into your power.'
5 David then went with his men to Keilah and fought with the Philistines. He drove off their cattle and inflicted a severe defeat on them, and thus rescued the inhabitants of Keilah.	5 So David and his men went to Keilah and fought the Philistines and carried off their cattle and inflicteda great defeat on them. Thus David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.
6 Abiathar, son of Ahimelech, who had fled to David, went down with David to Keilah, taking the ephod with him.	6 When Abiathar son of Ahimelech took refuge with David, he went down to Keilah with the ephod in hishand.
7 When Saul was told that David had entered Keilah, he said: "God has put him in my grip. Now he has shut himself in, for he has entered a city with gates and bars."	7 When word was brought to Saul that David had gone to Keilah he said, 'God has delivered him intomy power: he has trapped himself by going into a town with gates and bars.'
8 Saul then called all the people to war, in order to go down to Keilah and besiege David and his men.	8 Saul called all the people to arms, to go down to Keilah and besiege David and his men.
9 When David found out that Saul was planning to harm him, he said to the priest Abiathar, "Bring forward the ephod."	9 David, however, was aware that Saul was plotting evil against him, and said to Abiathar the priest,'Bring the ephod.'
10 David then said: "O LORD God of Israel, your servant has heard a report that Saul plans to come to Keilah, to destroy the city on my account.	10 David said, 'Yahweh, God of Israel, your servant has heard that Saul is preparing to come to Keilahand destroy the town because of me.
11 Will they hand me over? And now: will Saul come down as your servant has heard? O LORD God of Israel, tell your servant." The LORD answered, "He will come down."	11 Wil Saul come down as your servant has heard? Yahweh, God of Israel, I beg you, let your servantknow.' Yahweh replied, 'He wil come down.'
12 David then asked, "Will the citizens of Keilah deliver me and my men into the grasp of Saul?" And the LORD answered, "Yes."	12 David then went on to ask, 'Wil the notables of Keilah hand me and my men over to Saul?' Yahwehreplied, 'They wil hand you over.'
13 So David and his men, about six hundred in number, left Keilah and wandered from place to place. When Saul was informed that David had escaped from Keilah, he abandoned the expedition.	13 At this, David made off with his men, about six hundred in number; they left Keilah and went wherethey could. When Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah, he abandoned the expedition.
14 David now lived in the refuges in the desert, or in the barren hill country near Ziph. Though Saul sought him continually, the LORD did not deliver David into his grasp.	14 David stayed in the desert, in the strongholds; he stayed in the mountains, in the desert of Ziph; Saulkept looking for him day after day, but God did not deliver him into his power.
15 David was apprehensive because Saul had come out to seek his life; but while he was at Horesh in the barrens near Ziph,	15 David was aware that Saul had mounted an expedition to take his life. David was then at Horesh inthe desert of Ziph.
16 Saul's son, Jonathan, came down there to David and strengthened his resolve in the LORD.	16 Jonathan son of Saul set off and went to David at Horesh and encouraged him in the name of God.
17 He said to him: "Have no fear, my father Saul shall not lay a hand to you. You shall be king of Israel and I shall be second to you. Even my father Saul knows this."	17 'Do not be afraid,' he said, 'for my father Saul's hand wil not reach you. You are to reign over Israel,and I shall be second to you. Saul my father is himself aware of this.'
18 They made a joint agreement before the LORD in Horesh, where David remained, while Jonathan returned to his home.	18 And the two made a pact before Yahweh. David stayed at Horesh and Jonathan went home.
19 Some of the Ziphites went up to Saul in Gibeah and said, "David is hiding among us, now in the refuges, and again at Horesh, or on the hill of Hachilah, south of the wasteland.	19 Some men from Ziph then went up to Saul at Gibeah and said, 'Look, David is hiding among us inthe strongholds at Horesh, on the Hil of Hachilah to the south of the wastelands.
20 Therefore, whenever the king wishes to come down, let him do so. It will be our task to deliver him into the king's grasp."	20 Now whenever you wish to go down, my lord king, do so; we shal make it our task to hand him overto the king.'
21 Saul replied: "The LORD bless you for your sympathy toward me.	21 Saul replied, 'May you be blessed by Yahweh for sympathising with me.
22 Go now and make sure once more! Take note of the place where he sets foot" (for he thought, perhaps they are playing some trick on me).	22 Go and make doubly sure, find out exactly what place he frequents, for I have been told that he isvery cunning.
23 "Look around and learn in which of all the various hiding places he is holding out. Then come back to me with sure information, and I will go with you. If he is in the region, I will search him out among all the families of Judah."	23 Take careful note of al the hiding places where he lurks, and come back to me when you are certain.I shal then come with you and, if he is in the country, I shall track him down through every clan in Judah!'
24 So they went off to Ziph ahead of Saul. At this time David and his men were in the desert below Maon, in the Arabah south of the wasteland.	24 Setting off they went to Ziph ahead of Saul. Meanwhile, David and his men were in the desert ofMaon, in the plain to the south of the wastelands.
25 When Saul and his men came looking for him, David got word of it and went down to the gorge in the desert below Maon. Saul heard of this and pursued David into the desert below Maon.	25 When Saul and his men set out in search, David was told and went down to the gorge runningthrough the desert of Maon.
26 As Saul moved along one rim of the gorge, David and his men took to the other. David was in anxious flight to escape Saul, and Saul and his men were attempting to outflank David and his men in order to capture them,	26 Saul and his men proceeded along one side of the mountain, David and his men along the other.David was hurrying to escape from Saul, while Saul and his men were trying to cross over to David and hismen's side, to capture them,
27 when a messenger came to Saul, saying, "Come quickly, because the Philistines have invaded the land."	27 when a messenger came to Saul and said, 'Come at once, the Philistines have invaded the country.'
28 Saul interrupted his pursuit of David and went to meet the Philistines. This is how that place came to be called the Gorge of Divisions.	28 So Saul broke off his pursuit of David and went to oppose the Philistines. That is why the place iscal ed the Gorge of Separations.