| NET Bible | International Standard Version |
| 1The Philistines assembled all their troops at Aphek, while Israel camped at the spring that is in Jezreel. | 1The Philistines gathered all their troops at Aphek, while Israel was camped at the spring in Jezreel. |
| 2When the leaders of the Philistines were passing in review at the head of their units of hundreds and thousands, David and his men were passing in review in the rear with Achish. | 2The Philistine leaders were passing in review among the military units, and David and his men were among them in the rear with Achish. |
| 3The leaders of the Philistines asked, "What about these Hebrews?" Achish said to the leaders of the Philistines, "Isn't this David, the servant of King Saul of Israel, who has been with me for quite some time? I have found no fault with him from the day of his defection until the present time!" | 3The Philistine leaders said, "What are these Hebrews doing here?" Achish asked the Philistine leaders, "Isn't this David, the servant of King Saul of Israel, who has been with me these days, or rather these years? I've found no fault in him from the day he deserted until now." |
| 4But the leaders of the Philistines became angry with him and said to him, "Send the man back! Let him return to the place that you assigned him! Don't let him go down with us into the battle, for he might become our adversary in the battle. What better way to please his lord than with the heads of these men? | 4But the Philistine leaders were angry with him, so they pleaded with him, "Send the man back! Let him return to the place you assigned him. He mustn't go into battle with us. Otherwise, he may become our adversary in the battle! How could there be a better way for this fellow to reconcile himself with his lord? Wouldn't it be with the heads of these men? |
| 5Isn't this David, of whom they sang as they danced, 'Saul has struck down his thousands, but David his tens of thousands'?" | 5Isn't this the same David about whom the maidens sang when they were dancing, 'Saul has struck down his thousands, but David his ten thousands'?" |
| 6So Achish summoned David and said to him, "As surely as the LORD lives, you are an honest man, and I am glad to have you serving with me in the army. I have found no fault with you from the day that you first came to me until the present time. But in the opinion of the leaders, you are not reliable. | 6Then Achish summoned David and told him, "As surely as the LORD lives, you are trustworthy, and it seems good to me for you to campaign with me as part of the army. Indeed, I've not found any evil in you from the time you came to me until now. But the leaders don't approve of you. |
| 7So turn and leave in peace. You must not do anything that the leaders of the Philistines consider improper!" | 7Now return and go in peace, so you do nothing to displease the Philistine leaders." |
| 8But David said to Achish, "What have I done? What have you found in your servant from the day that I first came into your presence until the present time, that I shouldn't go and fight the enemies of my lord the king?" | 8David told Achish, "What have I done, and what have you found in your servant from the time I came before you until this very moment, that I shouldn't go out and fight the enemies of your majesty?" |
| 9Achish replied to David, "I am convinced that you are as reliable as the angel of God! However, the leaders of the Philistines have said, 'He must not go up with us in the battle.' | 9Achish answered David, "I know that I'm pleased with you. You're like an angel of God. But the Philistine leaders have said, 'He mustn't go into battle with us.' |
| 10So get up early in the morning along with the servants of your lord who have come with you. When you get up early in the morning, as soon as it is light enough to see, leave." | 10Now, get up early in the morning along with your lord's servants who came with you. Get up early in the morning, and go as soon as you have light." |
| 11So David and his men got up early in the morning to return to the land of the Philistines, but the Philistines went up to Jezreel. | 11So David and his men got up early in the morning to return to Philistine territory, while the Philistines went up to Jezreel. |
|
