1 Samuel 23

NEW JERUSALEM	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 News was then brought to David, 'The Philistines are besieging Keilah and plundering the threshing-floors'.	1 And they reported to David, saying, “Behold, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah, and they are plundering the grain stores.”
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 strike down these Philistines?” And the Lord said to David, “Go, and you shall strike down the Philistines, and you shall save Keilah.”
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 who were with David said to him, “Behold, we continue in fear here in Judea; how much more so, if we go into Keilah against the troops 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 responding, he said to him: “Rise up, and go into Keilah. For I will deliver the Philistines into your 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 Therefore, David and his men went into Keilah. And they fought against the Philistines, and they took away their cattle, and they struck them with a great slaughter. And David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.
6 When Abiathar son of Ahimelech took refuge with David, he went down to Keilah with the ephod in hishand.	6 And in that time, when Abiathar, the son of Ahimelech, was in exile with David, he had descended to Keilah, 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 Then it was reported to Saul that David had gone to Keilah. And Saul said: “The Lord has delivered him into my hands. For he is enclosed, having entered into a city which has 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 instructed all the people to descend in order to fight against Keilah, 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 And when David had realized that Saul had secretly prepared evil against him, he said to Abiathar, the priest, “Bring 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, your servant has heard a report that Saul is planning to go to Keilah, so that he may overturn the city because of me.
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 Keilah deliver me into his hands? And will Saul descend, just as your servant has heard? O Lord God of Israel, reveal to your servant.” And the Lord said, “He will descend.”
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 Keilah deliver me, and the men who are with me, into the hands of Saul?” And the Lord said, “They will deliver you.”
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 Therefore, David, and his men of about six hundred, rose up, and, departing from Keilah, they wandered here and there, aimlessly. And it was reported to Saul that David had fled from Keilah, and was saved. For this reason, he chose not 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 Then David stayed in the desert, in very strong places. And he stayed on a mount in the wilderness of Ziph, on a shady mount. Nevertheless, Saul was seeking him every day. But the Lord did not deliver him 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 had gone out, so that he might seek his life. Now David was in the desert of Ziph, in the woods.
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, rose up and went to David in the woods, and he 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 “Do not be afraid. For the hand of my father, Saul, will not find you. And you shall reign over Israel. And I will be second to you. And even my father knows this.”
18 And the two made a pact before Yahweh. David stayed at Horesh and Jonathan went home.	18 Therefore, they both struck a pact before the Lord. And David stayed in the woods. 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 Then the Ziphites ascended to Saul at Gibeah, saying: “Behold, is not David hidden with us in very secure places in the woods on the hill of Hachilah, which is to the right 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, if your soul has desired to descend, then descend. Then it will be for us to deliver him into the hands of the king.”
21 Saul replied, 'May you be blessed by Yahweh for sympathising with me.	21 And Saul said: “You have been blessed by the Lord. For you have grieved for my situation.
22 Go and make doubly sure, find out exactly what place he frequents, for I have been told that he isvery cunning.	22 Therefore, I beg you, go forth, and prepare diligently, and act carefully. And consider the place where his foot may be, and who may have seen him there. For he thinks, concerning me, that I craftily plan treachery against 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 seek out all his hiding places, in which he may be concealed. And return to me with certainty about the matter, so that I may go with you. But if he would even press himself into the earth, I will search him out, amid all the thousands of Judah.”
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 rising up, they went to Ziph before Saul. But David and his men were in the desert of Maon, in the plain to the right of Jeshimon.
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 allies went to seek him. And this was reported to David. And immediately, he descended to the rock, and he moved about in the desert of Maon. And when Saul had heard of it, he pursued David in the desert 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 to one side of the mountain. But David and his men were on the other side of the mountain. Then David was despairing that he would be able to escape from the face of Saul. And Saul and his men enclosed David and his men in the manner of a crown, so that they might capture 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, “Hurry and come, because the Philistines have poured themselves out 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 Therefore, Saul turned back, ceasing in the pursuit of David, and he traveled to meet the Philistines. For this reason, they called that place, the Rock of Division.