1 Samuel 22

NEW JERUSALEM	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 David left there and took refuge in the Cave of Adul am; his brothers and his father's whole familyheard this and joined him there.	1 Then David went away from there, and he fled to the cave of Adullam. And when his brothers and all of his father’s house had heard of it, they descended to him there.
2 Al those in distress, al those in debt, al those who had a grievance, gathered round him and hebecame their leader. There were about four hundred men with him.	2 And all those left in distress, or oppressed by debt to strangers, or bitter in soul, gathered themselves to him. And he became their leader, and about four hundred men were with him.
3 From there David went to Mizpah in Moab and said to the king of Moab, 'Allow my father and motherto stay with you until I know what God intends to do for me.'	3 And David set out from there to Mizpah, which is of Moab. And he said to the king of Moab, “I beg you, let my father and my mother remain with you, until I know what God will do for me.”
4 He left them with the king of Moab and there they stayed all the time that David was in the stronghold.	4 And he left them before the face of the king of Moab. And they stayed with him for all the days that David was in the stronghold.
5 The prophet Gad, however, said to David, 'Do not stay in the stronghold; leave and make your wayinto the territory of Judah.' David then left and went to the forest of Hereth.	5 And the prophet Gad said to David: “Do not choose to stay in the stronghold. Set out and go into the land of Judah.” And so, David set out, and he went into the forest of Hereth.
6 When Saul heard that David and the men with him had been discovered, Saul was at Gibeah, seatedunder the tamarisk on the high place, spear in hand, with al his staff standing round him.	6 And Saul heard that David, and the men who were with him, had been seen. Now while Saul was staying in Gibeah, and while he was in the forest that is in Ramah, holding a spear in his hand, with all his servants standing around him,
7 'Listen, Benjaminites!' said Saul to them, 'Is the son of Jesse going to give you all fields and vineyardsand make al of you commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds	7 he said to his servants who were assisting him: “Listen now, you sons of Benjamin! Will the son of Jesse give to all of you fields and vineyards, and will he make all of you tribunes or centurions,
8 that you al conspire against me? No one warned me when my son made a pact with the son of Jesse;none of you felt sorry for me or warned me when my son incited my servant to become my enemy, as he is now.'	8 so that you would all conspire against me, and so that there is no one to inform me, especially when even my son has formed a pact with the son of Jesse? There is no one among you who grieves for my situation, or who would report to me. For my son has raised up my servant against me, seeking to betray me, even to this day.”
9 Then, up spoke Doeg the Edomite, who was in command of Saul's staff, 'I saw the son of Jessecoming to Nob, to Ahimelech son of Ahitub.	9 Then Doeg, the Edomite, who was standing near, and who was first among the servants of Saul, responding, said: “I saw the son of Jesse, in Nob, with Ahimelech, the son of Ahitub, the priest.
10 That man consulted Yahweh on his behalf, gave him provisions and also the sword of Goliath thePhilistine.'	10 And he consulted the Lord for him, and he gave him food. Moreover, he gave him the sword of Goliath, the Philistine.”
11 The king then sent for the priest Ahimelech son of Ahitub and his whole family, the priests of Nob;they al came to the king.	11 Then the king sent to summon Ahimelech, the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all of his father’s house, the priests who were in Nob, and they all came before the king.
12 Saul said, 'Now listen, son of Ahitub!' He replied, 'Here I am, my lord.'	12 And Saul said to Ahimelech, “Listen, son of Ahitub.” He responded, “Here I am, lord.”
13 'Why have you conspired against me,' said Saul, 'you and the son of Jesse, giving him bread and asword and consulting God on his behalf, for him to rebel against me as is now the case?'	13 And Saul said to him: “Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse? For you gave him bread and a sword, and you consulted the Lord for him, so that he might rise up against me, continuing as a traitor even to this day.”
14 Ahimelech replied to the king, 'Of al those in your service, who is more loyal than David son-in-law tothe king, captain of your bodyguard, honoured in your household?	14 And responding to the king, Ahimelech said: “But who among all your servants is as faithful as David? And he is the son-in-law of the king, and he goes forth at your order, and he is a glory within your house.
15 Was today the first time I ever consulted God on his behalf? Indeed it was not! The king has nogrounds for bringing any charge against his servant or against his whole family, for your servant knew nothingwhatever about al this.'	15 Did I begin to consult the Lord for him today? May this be far from me! Let not the king suspect this kind of thing against his servant, nor against anyone in all my father’s house. For your servant did not know anything about this matter, either small or great.”
16 The king retorted, 'You must die, Ahimelech, you and your whole family.'	16 And the king said, “You shall die a death, Ahimelech, you and all your father’s house!”
17 The king said to the scouts who were standing round him, 'Forward! and put the priests of Yahweh todeath, for they too are on David's side, they knew that he was escaping, yet did not warn me of it.' The king'sprofessional soldiers, however, would not lift a hand to strike the priests of Yahweh.	17 And the king said to the emissaries who were standing around him: “You shall turn, and put to death the priests of the Lord. For their hand is with David. They knew that he had fled, and they did not reveal it to me.” But the servants of the king were not willing to extend their hands against the priests of the Lord.
18 The king then said to Doeg, 'Forward, you! Fall on the priests!' Doeg the Edomite stepped forwardand fel on the priests, himself that day kil ing eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod.	18 And the king said to Doeg, “You shall turn and rush against the priests.” And Doeg, the Edomite, turned and rushed against the priests. And he massacred, on that day, eighty-five men, vested with the linen ephod.
19 Nob, the town of the priests, Saul put to the sword: men and women, children and infants, cattle,donkeys and sheep.	19 Then he struck Nob, the city of the priests, with the edge of the sword; he struck down men and women, little ones and infants, as well as ox and donkey and sheep, with the edge of the sword.
20 One son of Ahimelech son of Ahitub alone escaped. His name was Abiathar, and he fled away to joinDavid.	20 But one of the sons of Ahimelech, the son of Ahitub, whose name was Abiathar, escaping, fled to David.
21 When Abiathar told David that Saul had slaughtered the priests of Yahweh,	21 And he reported to him that Saul had slain the priests of the Lord.
22 David said to Abiathar, 'I knew, that day when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would be sure toinform Saul. I am responsible for the death of all your kinsmen.	22 And David said to Abiathar: “I knew, on that day when Doeg, the Edomite was there, that without doubt he would report it to Saul. I am guilty of all the souls of your father’s house.
23 Stay with me, do not be afraid, for he who seeks your life seeks mine; you wil be safe with me.'	23 You should remain with me. Do not be afraid. For he who seeks my life, seeks your life also, but with me you shall be saved.”