1 Samuel 23

NEW JERUSALEM	DOUAI-RHEIMS
1 News was then brought to David, 'The Philistines are besieging Keilah and plundering the threshing-floors'.	1 And they told David, saying: Behold the Philistines fight against Ceila, and they rob the barns.
2 David consulted Yahweh, 'Shal I go and fight these Philistines?' Yahweh replied to David, 'Go andfight the Philistines and save Keilah.'	2 Therefore David consulted the Lord, saying: Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And the Lord said to David: Go, and thou shalt smite the Philistines, and shalt save Ceila.
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!'	3 And the men that were with David, said to him: Behold we are in fear here in Judea, how much more if we go to Ceila against the hands of the Philistines?
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.'	4 Therefore David consulted the Lord again. And he answered and said to him: Arise, and go to Ceila: for I will deliver the Philistines into thy hand.
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.	5 David therefore, and his men, went to Ceila, and fought against the Philistines, and brought away their cattle, and made a great slaughter of them: and David saved the inhabitants of Ceila.
6 When Abiathar son of Ahimelech took refuge with David, he went down to Keilah with the ephod in hishand.	6 Now at that time, when Abiathar the son of Achimelech fled to David to Ceila, he came down having an ephod with him.
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.'	7 And it was told Saul that David was come to Ceila: and Saul said: The Lord hath delivered him into my hands, and he is shut up, being come into a city, that hath gates and bars.
8 Saul called all the people to arms, to go down to Keilah and besiege David and his men.	8 And Saul commanded all the people to go down to fight against Ceila, and to besiege David, and his men.
9 David, however, was aware that Saul was plotting evil against him, and said to Abiathar the priest,'Bring the ephod.'	9 Now when David understood, that Saul secretly prepared evil against him, he said to Abiathar the priest: Bring hither the ephod.
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.	10 And David said: O Lord God of Israel, thy servant hath heard a report, that Saul designeth to come to Ceila, to destroy the city for my sake:
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.'	11 Will the men of Ceila deliver me into his hands? and will Saul come down, as thy servant hath heard? O Lord God of Israel, tell thy servant. And the Lord said: He will come down.
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.'	12 And David said: Will the men of Ceila deliver me, and my men, into the hands of Saul? And the Lord said: They will deliver thee up.
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.	13 Then David and his men, who were about six hundred, arose, and departing from Ceila, wandered up and down uncertain where they should stay: and it was told Saul that David was fled from Ceila, and had escaped: wherefore he forbore to go out.
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.	14 But David abode in the desert in strong holds, and he remained in a mountain of the desert of Ziph, in a woody hill. And Saul sought him always: but the Lord delivered him not into his hands.
15 David was aware that Saul had mounted an expedition to take his life. David was then at Horesh inthe desert of Ziph.	15 And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life. And David was in the desert of Ziph, in a wood.
16 Jonathan son of Saul set off and went to David at Horesh and encouraged him in the name of God.	16 And Jonathan the son of Saul arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hands in God: and he said to him:
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.'	17 Fear not: for the hand of my father Saul shall not find thee, and thou shalt reign over Israel, and I shall be next to thee, yea, and my father knoweth this.
18 And the two made a pact before Yahweh. David stayed at Horesh and Jonathan went home.	18 And the two made a covenant before the Lord: and David abode in the wood: but Jonathan returned to his house.
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.	19 And the Ziphites went up to Saul in Gabaa, saying: Lo, doth not David lie hid with us in the strong holds of the wood, in mount Hachila, which is on the right hand of the desert.
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.'	20 Now therefore come down, as thy soul hath desired to come down: and it shall be our business to deliver him into the king's hands.
21 Saul replied, 'May you be blessed by Yahweh for sympathising with me.	21 And Saul said: Blessed be ye of the Lord, for you have pitied my case.
22 Go and make doubly sure, find out exactly what place he frequents, for I have been told that he isvery cunning.	22 Go therefore, I pray you, and use all diligence, and curiously inquire, and consider the place where his foot is, and who hath seen him there: for he thinketh of me, that I lie craftily in wait for him.
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!'	23 Consider and see all his lurking holes, wherein he is bid, and return to me with the certainty of the thing, that I may go with you. And if be should even go down into the earth to hide himself, I will search him out in all the thousands of Juda.
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.	24 And they arose and went to Ziph before Saul: and David and his men were in the desert of Maon, in the plain at the right hand of Jesimon.
25 When Saul and his men set out in search, David was told and went down to the gorge runningthrough the desert of Maon.	25 Then Saul and his men went to seek him: and it was told David, and forthwith he went down to the rock, and abode in the wilderness of Maon: and when Saul had heard of it he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon.
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,	26 And Saul went on this side of the mountain: and David and his men were on the other side of the mountain: and David despaired of being able to escape from the face of Saul: and Saul and his men encompassed David and his men round about to take them.
27 when a messenger came to Saul and said, 'Come at once, the Philistines have invaded the country.'	27 And a messenger came to Saul, saying: Make haste to come, for the Philistines have poured in themselves upon the land.
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.	28 Wherefore Saul returned, leaving the pursuit of David, and went to meet the Philistines. For this cause they called that place, the Rock of division.