1 Samuel 31:1-13

(31:1) Now the Philistines fought against Israel, and the men of Israel fled before the Philistines and fell slain on Mount Gilboa. (2) And the Philistines overtook Saul and his sons, and the Philistines struck down Jonathan and Abinadab and Malchi-shua, the sons of Saul. (3) The battle pressed hard against Saul, and the archers found him, and he was badly wounded by the archers. (4) Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, "Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and mistreat me." But his armor-bearer would not, for he feared greatly. Therefore Saul took his own sword and fell upon it. (5) And when his armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell upon his sword and died with him. (6) Thus Saul died, and his three sons, and his armor-bearer, and all his men, on the same day together. (7) And when the men of Israel who were on the other side of the valley and those beyond the Jordan saw that the men of Israel had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned their cities and fled. And the Philistines came and lived in them. (8) The next day, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. (9) So they cut off his head and stripped off his armor and sent messengers throughout the land of the Philistines, to carry the good news to the house of their idols and to the people. (10) They put his armor in the temple of Ashtaroth, and they fastened his body to the wall of Beth-shan. (11) But when the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul, (12) all the valiant men arose and went all night and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth-shan, and they came to Jabesh and burned them there. (13) And they took their bones and buried them under the tamarisk tree in Jabesh and fasted seven days.

1 Samuel 30:1-31

(30:1) Now when David and his men came to Ziklag on the third day, the Amalekites had made a raid against the Negeb and against Ziklag. They had overcome Ziklag and burned it with fire (2) and taken captive the women and all who were in it, both small and great. They killed no one, but carried them off and went their way. (3) And when David and his men came to the city, they found it burned with fire, and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. (4) Then David and the people who were with him raised their voices and wept until they had no more strength to weep. (5) David's two wives also had been taken captive, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel. (6) And David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were bitter in soul, each for his sons and daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God. (7) And David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, "Bring me the ephod." So Abiathar brought the ephod to David. (8) And David inquired of the LORD, "Shall I pursue after this band? Shall I overtake them?" He answered him, "Pursue, for you shall surely overtake and shall surely rescue." (9) So David set out, and the six hundred men who were with him, and they came to the brook Besor, where those who were left behind stayed. (10) But David pursued, he and four hundred men. Two hundred stayed behind, who were too exhausted to cross the brook Besor. (11) They found an Egyptian in the open country and brought him to David. And they gave him bread and he ate. They gave him water to drink, (12) and they gave him a piece of a cake of figs and two clusters of raisins. And when he had eaten, his spirit revived, for he had not eaten bread or drunk water for three days and three nights. (13) And David said to him, "To whom do you belong? And where are you from?" He said, "I am a young man of Egypt, servant to an Amalekite, and my master left me behind because I fell sick three days ago. (14) We had made a raid against the Negeb of the Cherethites and against that which belongs to Judah and against the Negeb of Caleb, and we burned Ziklag with fire." (15) And David said to him, "Will you take me down to this band?" And he said, "Swear to me by God that you will not kill me or deliver me into the hands of my master, and I will take you down to this band." (16) And when he had taken him down, behold, they were spread abroad over all the land, eating and drinking and dancing, because of all the great spoil they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from the land of Judah. (17) And David struck them down from twilight until the evening of the next day, and not a man of them escaped, except four hundred young men, who mounted camels and fled. (18) David recovered all that the Amalekites had taken, and David rescued his two wives. (19) Nothing was missing, whether small or great, sons or daughters, spoil or anything that had been taken. David brought back all. (20) David also captured all the flocks and herds, and the people drove the livestock before him, and said, "This is David's spoil." (21) Then David came to the two hundred men who had been too exhausted to follow David, and who had been left at the brook Besor. And they went out to meet David and to meet the people who were with him. And when David came near to the people he greeted them. (22) Then all the wicked and worthless fellows among the men who had gone with David said, "Because they did not go with us, we will not give them any of the spoil that we have recovered, except that each man may lead away his wife and children, and depart." (23) But David said, "You shall not do so, my brothers, with what the LORD has given us. He has preserved us and given into our hand the band that came against us. (24) Who would listen to you in this matter? For as his share is who goes down into the battle, so shall his share be who stays by the baggage. They shall share alike." (25) And he made it a statute and a rule for Israel from that day forward to this day. (26) When David came to Ziklag, he sent part of the spoil to his friends, the elders of Judah, saying, "Here is a present for you from the spoil of the enemies of the LORD." (27) It was for those in Bethel, in Ramoth of the Negeb, in Jattir, (28) in Aroer, in Siphmoth, in Eshtemoa, (29) in Racal, in the cities of the Jerahmeelites, in the cities of the Kenites, (30) in Hormah, in Bor-ashan, in Athach, (31) in Hebron, for all the places where David and his men had roamed.

1 Samuel 29:1-11

(29:1) Now the Philistines had gathered all their forces at Aphek. And the Israelites were encamped by the spring that is in Jezreel. (2) As the lords of the Philistines were passing on by hundreds and by thousands, and David and his men were passing on in the rear with Achish, (3) the commanders of the Philistines said, "What are these Hebrews doing here?" And Achish said to the commanders of the Philistines, "Is this not David, the servant of Saul, king of Israel, who has been with me now for days and years, and since he deserted to me I have found no fault in him to this day." (4) But the commanders of the Philistines were angry with him. And the commanders of the Philistines said to him, "Send the man back, that he may return to the place to which you have assigned him. He shall not go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he become an adversary to us. For how could this fellow reconcile himself to his lord? Would it not be with the heads of the men here? (5) Is not this David, of whom they sing to one another in dances, 'Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands'?" (6) Then Achish called David and said to him, "As the LORD lives, you have been honest, and to me it seems right that you should march out and in with me in the campaign. For I have found nothing wrong in you from the day of your coming to me to this day. Nevertheless, the lords do not approve of you. (7) So go back now; and go peaceably, that you may not displease the lords of the Philistines." (8) And David said to Achish, "But what have I done? What have you found in your servant from the day I entered your service until now, that I may not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?" (9) And Achish answered David and said, "I know that you are as blameless in my sight as an angel of God. Nevertheless, the commanders of the Philistines have said, 'He shall not go up with us to the battle.' (10) Now then rise early in the morning with the servants of your lord who came with you, and start early in the morning, and depart as soon as you have light." (11) So David set out with his men early in the morning to return to the land of the Philistines. But the Philistines went up to Jezreel.

1 Samuel 28:1-25

(28:1) In those days the Philistines gathered their forces for war, to fight against Israel. And Achish said to David, "Understand that you and your men are to go out with me in the army." (2) David said to Achish, "Very well, you shall know what your servant can do." And Achish said to David, "Very well, I will make you my bodyguard for life." (3) Now Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, his own city. And Saul had put the mediums and the necromancers out of the land. (4) The Philistines assembled and came and encamped at Shunem. And Saul gathered all Israel, and they encamped at Gilboa. (5) When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly. (6) And when Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD did not answer him, either by dreams, or by Urim, or by prophets. (7) Then Saul said to his servants, "Seek out for me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her." And his servants said to him, "Behold, there is a medium at En-dor." (8) So Saul disguised himself and put on other garments and went, he and two men with him. And they came to the woman by night. And he said, "Divine for me by a spirit and bring up for me whomever I shall name to you." (9) The woman said to him, "Surely you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off the mediums and the necromancers from the land. Why then are you laying a trap for my life to bring about my death?" (10) But Saul swore to her by the LORD, "As the LORD lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this thing." (11) Then the woman said, "Whom shall I bring up for you?" He said, "Bring up Samuel for me." (12) When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice. And the woman said to Saul, "Why have you deceived me? You are Saul." (13) The king said to her, "Do not be afraid. What do you see?" And the woman said to Saul, "I see a god coming up out of the earth." (14) He said to her, "What is his appearance?" And she said, "An old man is coming up, and he is wrapped in a robe." And Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground and paid homage. (15) Then Samuel said to Saul, "Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?" Saul answered, "I am in great distress, for the Philistines are warring against me, and God has turned away from me and answers me no more, either by prophets or by dreams. Therefore I have summoned you to tell me what I shall do." (16) And Samuel said, "Why then do you ask me, since the LORD has turned from you and become your enemy? (17) The LORD has done to you as he spoke by me, for the LORD has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor, David. (18) Because you did not obey the voice of the LORD and did not carry out his fierce wrath against Amalek, therefore the LORD has done this thing to you this day. (19) Moreover, the LORD will give Israel also with you into the hand of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons shall be with me. The LORD will give the army of Israel also into the hand of the Philistines." (20) Then Saul fell at once full length on the ground, filled with fear because of the words of Samuel. And there was no strength in him, for he had eaten nothing all day and all night. (21) And the woman came to Saul, and when she saw that he was terrified, she said to him, "Behold, your servant has obeyed you. I have taken my life in my hand and have listened to what you have said to me. (22) Now therefore, you also obey your servant. Let me set a morsel of bread before you; and eat, that you may have strength when you go on your way." (23) He refused and said, "I will not eat." But his servants, together with the woman, urged him, and he listened to their words. So he arose from the earth and sat on the bed. (24) Now the woman had a fattened calf in the house, and she quickly killed it, and she took flour and kneaded it and baked unleavened bread of it, (25) and she put it before Saul and his servants, and they ate. Then they rose and went away that night.

1 Samuel 27

(27:1) Then David said in his heart, "Now I shall perish one day by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than that I should escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will despair of seeking me any longer within the borders of Israel, and I shall escape out of his hand." (2) So David arose and went over, he and the six hundred men who were with him, to Achish the son of Maoch, king of Gath. (3) And David lived with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household, and David with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel, and Abigail of Carmel, Nabal's widow. (4) And when it was told Saul that David had fled to Gath, he no longer sought him. (5) Then David said to Achish, "If I have found favor in your eyes, let a place be given me in one of the country towns, that I may dwell there. For why should your servant dwell in the royal city with you?" (6) So that day Achish gave him Ziklag. Therefore Ziklag has belonged to the kings of Judah to this day. (7) And the number of the days that David lived in the country of the Philistines was a year and four months. (8) Now David and his men went up and made raids against the Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites, for these were the inhabitants of the land from of old, as far as Shur, to the land of Egypt. (9) And David would strike the land and would leave neither man nor woman alive, but would take away the sheep, the oxen, the donkeys, the camels, and the garments, and come back to Achish. (10) When Achish asked, "Where have you made a raid today?" David would say, "Against the Negeb of Judah," or, "Against the Negeb of the Jerahmeelites," or, "Against the Negeb of the Kenites." (11) And David would leave neither man nor woman alive to bring news to Gath, thinking, "lest they should tell about us and say, 'So David has done.'" Such was his custom all the while he lived in the country of the Philistines. (12) And Achish trusted David, thinking, "He has made himself an utter stench to his people Israel; therefore he shall always be my servant."

1 Samuel 26

(26:1) Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, "Is not David hiding himself on the hill of Hachilah, which is on the east of Jeshimon?" (2) So Saul arose and went down to the wilderness of Ziph with three thousand chosen men of Israel to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph. (3) And Saul encamped on the hill of Hachilah, which is beside the road on the east of Jeshimon. But David remained in the wilderness. When he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness, (4) David sent out spies and learned that Saul had come. (5) Then David rose and came to the place where Saul had encamped. And David saw the place where Saul lay, with Abner the son of Ner, the commander of his army. Saul was lying within the encampment, while the army was encamped around him. (6) Then David said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Joab's brother Abishai the son of Zeruiah, "Who will go down with me into the camp to Saul?" And Abishai said, "I will go down with you." (7) So David and Abishai went to the army by night. And there lay Saul sleeping within the encampment, with his spear stuck in the ground at his head, and Abner and the army lay around him. (8) Then said Abishai to David, "God has given your enemy into your hand this day. Now please let me pin him to the earth with one stroke of the spear, and I will not strike him twice." (9) But David said to Abishai, "Do not destroy him, for who can put out his hand against the LORD's anointed and be guiltless?" (10) And David said, "As the LORD lives, the LORD will strike him, or his day will come to die, or he will go down into battle and perish. (11) The LORD forbid that I should put out my hand against the LORD's anointed. But take now the spear that is at his head and the jar of water, and let us go." (12) So David took the spear and the jar of water from Saul's head, and they went away. No man saw it or knew it, nor did any awake, for they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from the LORD had fallen upon them. (13) Then David went over to the other side and stood far off on the top of the hill, with a great space between them. (14) And David called to the army, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, "Will you not answer, Abner?" Then Abner answered, "Who are you who calls to the king?" (15) And David said to Abner, "Are you not a man? Who is like you in Israel? Why then have you not kept watch over your lord the king? For one of the people came in to destroy the king your lord. (16) This thing that you have done is not good. As the LORD lives, you deserve to die, because you have not kept watch over your lord, the LORD's anointed. And now see where the king's spear is and the jar of water that was at his head." (17) Saul recognized David's voice and said, "Is this your voice, my son David?" And David said, "It is my voice, my lord, O king." (18) And he said, "Why does my lord pursue after his servant? For what have I done? What evil is on my hands? (19) Now therefore let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If it is the LORD who has stirred you up against me, may he accept an offering, but if it is men, may they be cursed before the LORD, for they have driven me out this day that I should have no share in the heritage of the LORD, saying, 'Go, serve other gods.' (20) Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth away from the presence of the LORD, for the king of Israel has come out to seek a single flea like one who hunts a partridge in the mountains." (21) Then Saul said, "I have sinned. Return, my son David, for I will no more do you harm, because my life was precious in your eyes this day. Behold, I have acted foolishly, and have made a great mistake." (22) And David answered and said, "Here is the spear, O king! Let one of the young men come over and take it. (23) The LORD rewards every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness, for the LORD gave you into my hand today, and I would not put out my hand against the LORD's anointed. (24) Behold, as your life was precious this day in my sight, so may my life be precious in the sight of the LORD, and may he deliver me out of all tribulation." (25) Then Saul said to David, "Blessed be you, my son David! You will do many things and will succeed in them." So David went his way, and Saul returned to his place.

1 Samuel 25

(25:1) Now Samuel died. And all Israel assembled and mourned for him, and they buried him in his house at Ramah. Then David rose and went down to the wilderness of Paran. (2) And there was a man in Maon whose business was in Carmel. The man was very rich; he had three thousand sheep and a thousand goats. He was shearing his sheep in Carmel. (3) Now the name of the man was Nabal, and the name of his wife Abigail. The woman was discerning and beautiful, but the man was harsh and badly behaved; he was a Calebite. (4) David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep. (5) So David sent ten young men. And David said to the young men, "Go up to Carmel, and go to Nabal and greet him in my name. (6) And thus you shall greet him: 'Peace be to you, and peace be to your house, and peace be to all that you have. (7) I hear that you have shearers. Now your shepherds have been with us, and we did them no harm, and they missed nothing all the time they were in Carmel. (8) Ask your young men, and they will tell you. Therefore let my young men find favor in your eyes, for we come on a feast day. Please give whatever you have at hand to your servants and to your son David.'" (9) When David's young men came, they said all this to Nabal in the name of David, and then they waited. (10) And Nabal answered David's servants, "Who is David? Who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants these days who are breaking away from their masters. (11) Shall I take my bread and my water and my meat that I have killed for my shearers and give it to men who come from I do not know where?" (12) So David's young men turned away and came back and told him all this. (13) And David said to his men, "Every man strap on his sword!" And every man of them strapped on his sword. David also strapped on his sword. And about four hundred men went up after David, while two hundred remained with the baggage. (14) But one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal's wife, "Behold, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to greet our master, and he railed at them. (15) Yet the men were very good to us, and we suffered no harm, and we did not miss anything when we were in the fields, as long as we went with them. (16) They were a wall to us both by night and by day, all the while we were with them keeping the sheep. (17) Now therefore know this and consider what you should do, for harm is determined against our master and against all his house, and he is such a worthless man that one cannot speak to him." (18) Then Abigail made haste and took two hundred loaves and two skins of wine and five sheep already prepared and five seahs of parched grain and a hundred clusters of raisins and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on donkeys. (19) And she said to her young men, "Go on before me; behold, I come after you." But she did not tell her husband Nabal. (20) And as she rode on the donkey and came down under cover of the mountain, behold, David and his men came down toward her, and she met them. (21) Now David had said, "Surely in vain have I guarded all that this fellow has in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that belonged to him, and he has returned me evil for good. (22) God do so to the enemies of David and more also, if by morning I leave so much as one male of all who belong to him." (23) When Abigail saw David, she hurried and got down from the donkey and fell before David on her face and bowed to the ground. (24) She fell at his feet and said, "On me alone, my lord, be the guilt. Please let your servant speak in your ears, and hear the words of your servant. (25) Let not my lord regard this worthless fellow, Nabal, for as his name is, so is he. Nabal is his name, and folly is with him. But I your servant did not see the young men of my lord, whom you sent. (26) Now then, my lord, as the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, because the LORD has restrained you from bloodguilt and from saving with your own hand, now then let your enemies and those who seek to do evil to my lord be as Nabal. (27) And now let this present that your servant has brought to my lord be given to the young men who follow my lord. (28) Please forgive the trespass of your servant. For the LORD will certainly make my lord a sure house, because my lord is fighting the battles of the LORD, and evil shall not be found in you so long as you live. (29) If men rise up to pursue you and to seek your life, the life of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of the living in the care of the LORD your God. And the lives of your enemies he shall sling out as from the hollow of a sling. (30) And when the LORD has done to my lord according to all the good that he has spoken concerning you and has appointed you prince over Israel, (31) my lord shall have no cause of grief or pangs of conscience for having shed blood without cause or for my lord taking vengeance himself. And when the LORD has dealt well with my lord, then remember your servant." (32) And David said to Abigail, "Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me! (33) Blessed be your discretion, and blessed be you, who have kept me this day from bloodguilt and from avenging myself with my own hand! (34) For as surely as the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, who has restrained me from hurting you, unless you had hurried and come to meet me, truly by morning there had not been left to Nabal so much as one male." (35) Then David received from her hand what she had brought him. And he said to her, "Go up in peace to your house. See, I have obeyed your voice, and I have granted your petition." (36) And Abigail came to Nabal, and behold, he was holding a feast in his house, like the feast of a king. And Nabal's heart was merry within him, for he was very drunk. So she told him nothing at all until the morning light. (37) In the morning, when the wine had gone out of Nabal, his wife told him these things, and his heart died within him, and he became as a stone. (38) And about ten days later the LORD struck Nabal, and he died. (39) When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, "Blessed be the LORD who has avenged the insult I received at the hand of Nabal, and has kept back his servant from wrongdoing. The LORD has returned the evil of Nabal on his own head." Then David sent and spoke to Abigail, to take her as his wife. (40) When the servants of David came to Abigail at Carmel, they said to her, "David has sent us to you to take you to him as his wife." (41) And she rose and bowed with her face to the ground and said, "Behold, your handmaid is a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord." (42) And Abigail hurried and rose and mounted a donkey, and her five young women attended her. She followed the messengers of David and became his wife. (43) David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel, and both of them became his wives. (44) Saul had given Michal his daughter, David's wife, to Palti the son of Laish, who was of Gallim.

1 Samuel 24

(24:1) When Saul returned from following the Philistines, he was told, "Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi." (2) Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel and went to seek David and his men in front of the Wildgoats' Rocks. (3) And he came to the sheepfolds by the way, where there was a cave, and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the innermost parts of the cave. (4) And the men of David said to him, "Here is the day of which the LORD said to you, 'Behold, I will give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you.'" Then David arose and stealthily cut off a corner of Saul's robe. (5) And afterward David's heart struck him, because he had cut off a corner of Saul's robe. (6) He said to his men, "The LORD forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the LORD's anointed, to put out my hand against him, seeing he is the LORD's anointed." (7) So David persuaded his men with these words and did not permit them to attack Saul. And Saul rose up and left the cave and went on his way. (8) Afterward David also arose and went out of the cave, and called after Saul, "My lord the king!" And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth and paid homage. (9) And David said to Saul, "Why do you listen to the words of men who say, 'Behold, David seeks your harm'? (10) Behold, this day your eyes have seen how the LORD gave you today into my hand in the cave. And some told me to kill you, but I spared you. I said, 'I will not put out my hand against my lord, for he is the LORD's anointed.' (11) See, my father, see the corner of your robe in my hand. For by the fact that I cut off the corner of your robe and did not kill you, you may know and see that there is no wrong or treason in my hands. I have not sinned against you, though you hunt my life to take it. (12) May the LORD judge between me and you, may the LORD avenge me against you, but my hand shall not be against you. (13) As the proverb of the ancients says, 'Out of the wicked comes wickedness.' But my hand shall not be against you. (14) After whom has the king of Israel come out? After whom do you pursue? After a dead dog! After a flea! (15) May the LORD therefore be judge and give sentence between me and you, and see to it and plead my cause and deliver me from your hand." (16) As soon as David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, "Is this your voice, my son David?" And Saul lifted up his voice and wept. (17) He said to David, "You are more righteous than I, for you have repaid me good, whereas I have repaid you evil. (18) And you have declared this day how you have dealt well with me, in that you did not kill me when the LORD put me into your hands. (19) For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away safe? So may the LORD reward you with good for what you have done to me this day. (20) And now, behold, I know that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand. (21) Swear to me therefore by the LORD that you will not cut off my offspring after me, and that you will not destroy my name out of my father's house." (22) And David swore this to Saul. Then Saul went home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.

Psalm 63

(63:1) A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. (2) So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. (3) Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. (4) So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands. (5) My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips, (6) when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; (7) for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy. (8) My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me. (9) But those who seek to destroy my life shall go down into the depths of the earth; (10) they shall be given over to the power of the sword; they shall be a portion for jackals. (11) But the king shall rejoice in God; all who swear by him shall exult, for the mouths of liars will be stopped.

Psalm 54

1 Sammuel 23

Psalm 52

1 Sammuel 22:3-23

Psalm 142

1 Samuel 22:1-2 & Psalm 57

1 Samuel 22:1 David departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. And when his brothers and all his father's house heard it, they went down there to him. (2) And everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was bitter in soul, gathered to him. And he became captain over them. And there were with him about four hundred men.

Psalm (57:1) To the choirmaster: according to Do Not Destroy. A Miktam of David, when he fled from Saul, in the cave. Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by. (2) I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me. (3) He will send from heaven and save me; he will put to shame him who tramples on me. Selah God will send out his steadfast love and his faithfulness! (4) My soul is in the midst of lions; I lie down amid fiery beasts-- the children of man, whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords. (5) Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth! (6) They set a net for my steps; my soul was bowed down. They dug a pit in my way, but they have fallen into it themselves. Selah (7) My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast! I will sing and make melody! (8) Awake, my glory! Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn! (9) I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations. (10) For your steadfast love is great to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. (11) Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth!

Psalm 56

(56:1) To the choirmaster: according to The Dove on Far-off Terebinths. A Miktam of David, when the Philistines seized him in Gath. Be gracious to me, O God, for man tramples on me; all day long an attacker oppresses me; (2) my enemies trample on me all day long, for many attack me proudly. (3) When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. (4) In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me? (5) All day long they injure my cause; all their thoughts are against me for evil. (6) They stir up strife, they lurk; they watch my steps, as they have waited for my life. (7) For their crime will they escape? In wrath cast down the peoples, O God! (8) You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book? (9) Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call. This I know, that God is for me. (10) In God, whose word I praise, in the LORD, whose word I praise, (11) in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me? (12) I must perform my vows to you, O God; I will render thank offerings to you. (13) For you have delivered my soul from death, yes, my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.

Psalm 34

(34:1) Of David, when he changed his behavior before Abimelech, so that he drove him out, and he went away. I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. (2) My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad. (3) Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together! (4) I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. (5) Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed. (6) This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him and saved him out of all his troubles. (7) The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. (8) Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! (9) Oh, fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack! (10) The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing. (11) Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD. (12) What man is there who desires life and loves many days, that he may see good? (13) Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. (14) Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. (15) The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry. (16) The face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth. (17) When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. (18) The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. (19) Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all. (20) He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken. (21) Affliction will slay the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be condemned. (22) The LORD redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.

1 Samuel 21

(21:1) Then David came to Nob to Ahimelech the priest. And Ahimelech came to meet David trembling and said to him, "Why are you alone, and no one with you?" (2) And David said to Ahimelech the priest, "The king has charged me with a matter and said to me, 'Let no one know anything of the matter about which I send you, and with which I have charged you.' I have made an appointment with the young men for such and such a place. (3) Now then, what do you have on hand? Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever is here." (4) And the priest answered David, "I have no common bread on hand, but there is holy bread--if the young men have kept themselves from women." (5) And David answered the priest, "Truly women have been kept from us as always when I go on an expedition. The vessels of the young men are holy even when it is an ordinary journey. How much more today will their vessels be holy?" (6) So the priest gave him the holy bread, for there was no bread there but the bread of the Presence, which is removed from before the LORD, to be replaced by hot bread on the day it is taken away. (7) Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before the LORD. His name was Doeg the Edomite, the chief of Saul's herdsmen. (8) Then David said to Ahimelech, "Then have you not here a spear or a sword at hand? For I have brought neither my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king's business required haste." (9) And the priest said, "The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you struck down in the Valley of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you will take that, take it, for there is none but that here." And David said, "There is none like that; give it to me." (10) And David rose and fled that day from Saul and went to Achish the king of Gath. (11) And the servants of Achish said to him, "Is not this David the king of the land? Did they not sing to one another of him in dances, 'Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands'?" (12) And David took these words to heart and was much afraid of Achish the king of Gath. (13) So he changed his behavior before them and pretended to be insane in their hands and made marks on the doors of the gate and let his spittle run down his beard. (14) Then Achish said to his servants, "Behold, you see the man is mad. Why then have you brought him to me? (15) Do I lack madmen, that you have brought this fellow to behave as a madman in my presence? Shall this fellow come into my house?"

1 Samuel 20

(20:1) Then David fled from Naioth in Ramah and came and said before Jonathan, "What have I done? What is my guilt? And what is my sin before your father, that he seeks my life?" (2) And he said to him, "Far from it! You shall not die. Behold, my father does nothing either great or small without disclosing it to me. And why should my father hide this from me? It is not so." (3) But David vowed again, saying, "Your father knows well that I have found favor in your eyes, and he thinks, 'Do not let Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved.' But truly, as the LORD lives and as your soul lives, there is but a step between me and death." (4) Then Jonathan said to David, "Whatever you say, I will do for you." (5) David said to Jonathan, "Behold, tomorrow is the new moon, and I should not fail to sit at table with the king. But let me go, that I may hide myself in the field till the third day at evening. (6) If your father misses me at all, then say, 'David earnestly asked leave of me to run to Bethlehem his city, for there is a yearly sacrifice there for all the clan.' (7) If he says, 'Good!' it will be well with your servant, but if he is angry, then know that harm is determined by him. (8) Therefore deal kindly with your servant, for you have brought your servant into a covenant of the LORD with you. But if there is guilt in me, kill me yourself, for why should you bring me to your father?" (9) And Jonathan said, "Far be it from you! If I knew that it was determined by my father that harm should come to you, would I not tell you?" (10) Then David said to Jonathan, "Who will tell me if your father answers you roughly?" (11) And Jonathan said to David, "Come, let us go out into the field." So they both went out into the field. (12) And Jonathan said to David, "The LORD, the God of Israel, be witness! When I have sounded out my father, about this time tomorrow, or the third day, behold, if he is well disposed toward David, shall I not then send and disclose it to you? (13) But should it please my father to do you harm, the LORD do so to Jonathan and more also if I do not disclose it to you and send you away, that you may go in safety. May the LORD be with you, as he has been with my father. (14) If I am still alive, show me the steadfast love of the LORD, that I may not die; (15) and do not cut off your steadfast love from my house forever, when the LORD cuts off every one of the enemies of David from the face of the earth." (16) And Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, "May the LORD take vengeance on David's enemies." (17) And Jonathan made David swear again by his love for him, for he loved him as he loved his own soul. (18) Then Jonathan said to him, "Tomorrow is the new moon, and you will be missed, because your seat will be empty. (19) On the third day go down quickly to the place where you hid yourself when the matter was in hand, and remain beside the stone heap. (20) And I will shoot three arrows to the side of it, as though I shot at a mark. (21) And behold, I will send the young man, saying, 'Go, find the arrows.' If I say to the young man, 'Look, the arrows are on this side of you, take them,' then you are to come, for, as the LORD lives, it is safe for you and there is no danger. (22) But if I say to the youth, 'Look, the arrows are beyond you,' then go, for the LORD has sent you away. (23) And as for the matter of which you and I have spoken, behold, the LORD is between you and me forever." (24) So David hid himself in the field. And when the new moon came, the king sat down to eat food. (25) The king sat on his seat, as at other times, on the seat by the wall. Jonathan sat opposite, and Abner sat by Saul's side, but David's place was empty. (26) Yet Saul did not say anything that day, for he thought, "Something has happened to him. He is not clean; surely he is not clean." (27) But on the second day, the day after the new moon, David's place was empty. And Saul said to Jonathan his son, "Why has not the son of Jesse come to the meal, either yesterday or today?" (28) Jonathan answered Saul, "David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Bethlehem. (29) He said, 'Let me go, for our clan holds a sacrifice in the city, and my brother has commanded me to be there. So now, if I have found favor in your eyes, let me get away and see my brothers.' For this reason he has not come to the king's table." (30) Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said to him, "You son of a perverse, rebellious woman, do I not know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to your own shame, and to the shame of your mother's nakedness? (31) For as long as the son of Jesse lives on the earth, neither you nor your kingdom shall be established. Therefore send and bring him to me, for he shall surely die." (32) Then Jonathan answered Saul his father, "Why should he be put to death? What has he done?" (33) But Saul hurled his spear at him to strike him. So Jonathan knew that his father was determined to put David to death. (34) And Jonathan rose from the table in fierce anger and ate no food the second day of the month, for he was grieved for David, because his father had disgraced him. (35) In the morning Jonathan went out into the field to the appointment with David, and with him a little boy. (36) And he said to his boy, "Run and find the arrows that I shoot." As the boy ran, he shot an arrow beyond him. (37) And when the boy came to the place of the arrow that Jonathan had shot, Jonathan called after the boy and said, "Is not the arrow beyond you?" (38) And Jonathan called after the boy, "Hurry! Be quick! Do not stay!" So Jonathan's boy gathered up the arrows and came to his master. (39) But the boy knew nothing. Only Jonathan and David knew the matter. (40) And Jonathan gave his weapons to his boy and said to him, "Go and carry them to the city." (41) And as soon as the boy had gone, David rose from beside the stone heap and fell on his face to the ground and bowed three times. And they kissed one another and wept with one another, David weeping the most. (42) Then Jonathan said to David, "Go in peace, because we have sworn both of us in the name of the LORD, saying, 'The LORD shall be between me and you, and between my offspring and your offspring, forever.'" And he rose and departed, and Jonathan went into the city.

1 Samuel 19:12-24

(12) So Michal let David down through the window, and he fled away and escaped. (13) Michal took an image and laid it on the bed and put a pillow of goats' hair at its head and covered it with the clothes. (14) And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, "He is sick." (15) Then Saul sent the messengers to see David, saying, "Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may kill him." (16) And when the messengers came in, behold, the image was in the bed, with the pillow of goats' hair at its head. (17) Saul said to Michal, "Why have you deceived me thus and let my enemy go, so that he has escaped?" And Michal answered Saul, "He said to me, 'Let me go. Why should I kill you?'" (18) Now David fled and escaped, and he came to Samuel at Ramah and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and lived at Naioth. (19) And it was told Saul, "Behold, David is at Naioth in Ramah." (20) Then Saul sent messengers to take David, and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as head over them, the Spirit of God came upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied. (21) When it was told Saul, he sent other messengers, and they also prophesied. And Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they also prophesied. (22) Then he himself went to Ramah and came to the great well that is in Secu. And he asked, "Where are Samuel and David?" And one said, "Behold, they are at Naioth in Ramah." (23) And he went there to Naioth in Ramah. And the Spirit of God came upon him also, and as he went he prophesied until he came to Naioth in Ramah. (24) And he too stripped off his clothes, and he too prophesied before Samuel and lay naked all that day and all that night. Thus it is said, "Is Saul also among the prophets?"

Psalm 59:1-17

(1) To the choirmaster: according to Do Not Destroy. A Miktam of David, when Saul sent men to watch his house in order to kill him. Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; protect me from those who rise up against me; (2) deliver me from those who work evil, and save me from bloodthirsty men. (3) For behold, they lie in wait for my life; fierce men stir up strife against me. For no transgression or sin of mine, O LORD, (4) for no fault of mine, they run and make ready. Awake, come to meet me, and see! (5) You, LORD God of hosts, are God of Israel. Rouse yourself to punish all the nations; spare none of those who treacherously plot evil. Selah (6) Each evening they come back, howling like dogs and prowling about the city. (7) There they are, bellowing with their mouths with swords in their lips-- for "Who," they think, "will hear us?" (8) But you, O LORD, laugh at them; you hold all the nations in derision. (9) O my Strength, I will watch for you, for you, O God, are my fortress. (10) My God in his steadfast love will meet me; God will let me look in triumph on my enemies. (11) Kill them not, lest my people forget; make them totter by your power and bring them down, O Lord, our shield! (12) For the sin of their mouths, the words of their lips, let them be trapped in their pride. For the cursing and lies that they utter, (13) consume them in wrath; consume them till they are no more, that they may know that God rules over Jacob to the ends of the earth. Selah (14) Each evening they come back, howling like dogs and prowling about the city. (15) They wander about for food and growl if they do not get their fill. (16) But I will sing of your strength; I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning. For you have been to me a fortress and a refuge in the day of my distress. (17) O my Strength, I will sing praises to you, for you, O God, are my fortress, the God who shows me steadfast love.

1 Samuel 19:1-11

(1) And Saul spoke to Jonathan his son and to all his servants, that they should kill David. But Jonathan, Saul's son, delighted much in David. (2) And Jonathan told David, "Saul my father seeks to kill you. Therefore be on your guard in the morning. Stay in a secret place and hide yourself. (3) And I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are, and I will speak to my father about you. And if I learn anything I will tell you." (4) And Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father and said to him, "Let not the king sin against his servant David, because he has not sinned against you, and because his deeds have brought good to you. (5) For he took his life in his hand and he struck down the Philistine, and the LORD worked a great salvation for all Israel. You saw it, and rejoiced. Why then will you sin against innocent blood by killing David without cause?" (6) And Saul listened to the voice of Jonathan. Saul swore, "As the LORD lives, he shall not be put to death." (7) And Jonathan called David, and Jonathan reported to him all these things. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence as before. (8) And there was war again. And David went out and fought with the Philistines and struck them with a great blow, so that they fled before him. (9) Then a harmful spirit from the LORD came upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his spear in his hand. And David was playing the lyre. (10) And Saul sought to pin David to the wall with the spear, but he eluded Saul, so that he struck the spear into the wall. And David fled and escaped that night. (11) Saul sent messengers to David's house to watch him, that he might kill him in the morning. But Michal, David's wife, told him, "If you do not escape with your life tonight, tomorrow you will be killed."