1 Samuel 29

1 Now the Philistines gathered together all their armies to Aphek: and the Israelites camped by the spring which is in Jezreel.

Now the Philistines brought all their forces together at Aphek, while Israel camped by the spring in Jezreel.

2 The lords of the Philistines passed on by hundreds, and by thousands; and David and his men passed on in the rear with Achish.

As the Philistine leaders marched out their units of hundreds and thousands, David and his men marched behind them with Achish.

3 Then the leaders of the Philistines said, "What about these Hebrews?" And Achish said to the leaders of the Philistines, "Isn't this David, the servant of Saul the king of Israel, who has been with me these days, or rather these years, and I have found no fault in him since he defected to me until this day?"

Then the commanders of the Philistines asked, “What about these Hebrews?” Achish replied, “Is this not David, the servant of King Saul of Israel? He has been with me all these days, even years, and from the day he defected until today I have found no fault in him.”

4 But the leaders of the Philistines were angry with him, and said to him, "Send that man back to the place where you have assigned him, and he must not go down with us to battle, or in the battle he may become an adversary. For how could this fellow reconcile himself to his lord? Should it not be with the heads of these men?

But the commanders of the Philistines were angry with Achish and told him, “Send that man back and let him return to the place you assigned him. He must not go down with us into battle only to become our adversary during the war. What better way for him to regain the favor of his master than with the heads of our men?

5 Is not this David about whom they sang one to another in dances, saying, 'Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands?'"

Is this not the David about whom they sing in their dances: ‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands’?”

6 Then Achish called David, and said to him, "As the LORD lives, you have been upright, and your going out and your coming in with me in the army is good in my sight; for I have not found evil in you since the day of your coming to me to this day. Nevertheless, the lords do not favor you.

So Achish summoned David and told him, “As surely as the LORD lives, you have been upright in my sight, and it seems right that you should march in and out with me in the army, because I have found no fault in you from the day you came to me until this day. But you have no favor in the sight of the leaders.

7 Therefore now return, and go in peace, that you not displease the lords of the Philistines."

Therefore turn back now and go in peace, so that you will not do anything to displease the leaders of the Philistines.”

8 David said to Achish, "But what have I done? What have you found in your servant so long as I have been before you to this day, that I may not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?"

“But what have I done?” David replied. “What have you found against your servant, from the day I came to you until today, to keep me from going along to fight against the enemies of my lord the king?”

9 Then Achish answered David, "I know that you are good in my sight. However, the leaders of the Philistines have said, 'He must not go up with us to the battle.'

Achish replied, “I know that you are as pleasing in my sight as an angel of God. But the commanders of the Philistines have said, ‘He must not go into battle with us.’

10 So get up early in the morning, you and the servants of your lord who have come with you, and go to the place which I allotted to you. As for evil remarks, take none to heart; for you are good in my sight. And as soon as you are up early in the morning, and have light, depart."

Now then, get up early in the morning, along with your master’s servants who came with you, and go as soon as it is light.”

11 So David and his men got up early to return to the land of the Philistines. But the Philistines went up to Jezreel.

So David and his men got up early in the morning to return to the land of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel.