1 Samuel 29

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 The Philistines mustered al their forces at Aphek while the Israelites pitched camp near the spring inJezreel.	1 Now the Philistines had mustered all their forces in Aphek, and the Israelites were encamped at the spring of Harod near Jezreel.
2 The Philistine commanders marched past with their hundreds and their thousands, and David and hismen brought up the rear with Achish.	2 As the Philistine lords were marching their groups of a hundred and a thousand, David and his men were marching in the rear guard with Achish.
3 The Philistine chiefs asked, 'What are these Hebrews doing?' Achish replied to them, 'Why, this isDavid the servant of Saul, king of Israel, who has been with me for the last year or two. I have had no fault to findwith him from the day he gave himself up to me until the present time.'	3 The Philistine chiefs asked, "What are those Hebrews doing here?" And Achish answered them: "Why, that is David, the officer of Saul, king of Israel. He has been with me now for a year or two, and I have no fault to find with him from the day he came over to me until the present."
4 But the Philistine chiefs were angry with him. 'Send the man back,' they said, 'make him go back to theplace which you assigned to him. He cannot go into battle with us, in case he turns on us once battle is joined.Would there be a better way for the man to regain his master's favour than with the heads of these men here?	4 But the Philistine chiefs were angered at this and said to him: "Send that man back! Let him return to the place you picked out for him. He must not go down into battle with us, lest during the battle he become our enemy. For how else can he win back his master's favor, if not with the heads of these men of ours?
5 Is not this the David of whom they sang as they danced: Saul has kil ed his thousands, and David histens of thousands'?	5 Is this not the David of whom they sing during their dances, 'Saul has slain his thousands, but David his ten thousands'?"
6 So Achish called David and said, 'As Yahweh lives, you are loyal, and I am quite content with al yourdoings in our campaigning together, since I have found no fault with you from the day you came to me until thepresent time. But you are not acceptable to the chiefs.	6 So Achish summoned David and said to him: "As the LORD lives, you are honest, and I should be pleased to have you active with me in the camp, for I have found nothing wrong with you from the day of your arrival to this day. But you are not welcome to the lords.
7 So go home, in peace, rather than antagonise them.'	7 Withdraw peaceably, now, and do nothing that might displease the Philistine lords."
8 'But what have I done,' David asked Achish, 'what fault have you had to find with your servant from theday I entered your service to the present time, for me not to be al owed to go and fight the enemies of my lordthe king?'	8 But David said to Achish: "What have I done? Or what have you against your servant from the first day I have been with you to this day, that I cannot go to fight against the enemies of my lord the king?"
9 In reply, Achish said to David, 'In my opinion, it is true, you are as good as an angel of God; but thePhilistine chiefs have said, "He must not go into battle with us."	9 "You know," Achish answered David, "that you are acceptable to me. But the Philistine chiefs have determined you are not to go up with us to battle.
10 So get up early tomorrow morning, with your master's servants who came with you, and go to theplace which I assigned to you. Do not harbour resentment, since personal y I have no fault to find with you. Getup early tomorrow morning and, as soon as it is light, be off.'	10 So the first thing tomorrow, you and your lord's servants who came with you, go to the place I picked out for you. Do not decide to take umbrage at this; you are as acceptable to me as an angel of God. But make an early morning start, as soon as it grows light, and be on your way."
11 So David and his men got up early to leave at dawn and go back to Philistine territory. And thePhilistines marched on Jezreel.	11 So David and his men left early in the morning to return to the land of the Philistines. The Philistines, however, went on up to Jezreel.