1 Samuel 29

NEW JERUSALEM	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 The Philistines mustered al their forces at Aphek while the Israelites pitched camp near the spring inJezreel.	1 Then all the troops of the Philistines were gathered together at Aphek. But Israel also made camp, above the spring which is in Jezreel.
2 The Philistine commanders marched past with their hundreds and their thousands, and David and hismen brought up the rear with Achish.	2 And indeed, the princes of the Philistines advanced by hundreds and by thousands; but David and his men were in the rear 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 And the leaders of the Philistines said to Achish, “What do these Hebrews intend to do?” And Achish said to the leaders of the Philistines: “Could you be ignorant about David, who was the servant of Saul, the king of Israel, and who has been with me for many days, even years, and I have not found within him anything, from the day that he fled to me, even to this day?”
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 Then the leaders of the Philistines became angry against him, and they said to him: “Let this man return, and let him settle in his place, which you appointed for him. But let him not descend with us to battle, lest he become an adversary to us when we begin to fight. For in what other way will he be able to please his lord, except with our heads?
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 not this the David, about whom they were singing, while dancing, saying: ‘Saul struck down 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 Therefore, Achish called David, and he said to him: “As the Lord lives, you are good and righteous in my sight, even in your departure and your return with me in the military camp. And I have not found anything evil in you, from the day that you came to me, even to this day. But you are not pleasing to the princes.
7 So go home, in peace, rather than antagonise them.'	7 Therefore, return, and go in peace, so that you do not offend the eyes of the princes of the Philistines.”
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 And David said to Achish, “But what have I done, or what have you found in me, your servant, from the day that I was in your sight to this day, so that I may not go out and 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 And in response, Achish said to David: “I know that you are good in my sight, like an angel of God. But the leaders of the Philistines have said: ‘He shall not go up with us to the 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 And so, rise up in the morning, you and the servants of your lord who came with you. And when you have risen up in the night, as it begins to be light, go forth.”
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 And so David rose up in the night, he and his men, so that they might set out in the morning. And they returned to the land of the Philistines. But the Philistines ascended to Jezreel.