1 Samuel 21

Then came David to Nob to Ahimelech the priest: and Ahimelech was afraid at the meeting of David, and said unto him, Why art thou alone, and no man with thee?

David approached Nob, where Ahimelech the priest resided. Seeing David, Ahimelech felt a wave of fear. He asked David, his voice trembling, "Why are you here alone? Where are your companions?"

And David said unto Ahimelech the priest, The king hath commanded me a business, and hath said unto me, Let no man know any thing of the business whereabout I send thee, and what I have commanded thee: and I have appointed my servants to such and such a place.

David confided in Ahimelech the priest, "The king has given me a secret mission. He told me not to let anyone know about it or what he has ordered me to do. And I've told my men to meet me at a certain place."

Now therefore what is under thine hand? give me five loaves of bread in mine hand, or what there is present.

So, what do you have? Hand me five loaves of bread, or whatever you have available.

And the priest answered David, and said, There is no common bread under mine hand, but there is hallowed bread; if the young men have kept themselves at least from women.

The priest told David, "I don't have ordinary bread, only sacred bread. But it's only for those who have refrained from being with women."

And David answered the priest, and said unto him, Of a truth women have been kept from us about these three days, since I came out, and the vessels of the young men are holy, and the bread is in a manner common, yea, though it were sanctified this day in the vessel.

David responded to the priest with sincerity, "Indeed, we've been away from women for three days since our journey began. Our men are pure, and the bread, though ordinary, is as sacred as if it were blessed today."

So the priest gave him hallowed bread: for there was no bread there but the shewbread, that was taken from before the LORD, to put hot bread in the day when it was taken away.

The priest, with no other option, gave him the sacred bread. It was the only bread available, originally presented before the Lord and replaced with fresh loaves that day.

Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before the LORD; and his name was Doeg, an Edomite, the chiefest of the herdmen that belonged to Saul.

On that day, a man named Doeg, an Edomite, was there, kept back before the LORD. He was one of Saul's servants, the chief of Saul's herdsmen.

And David said unto Ahimelech, And is there not here under thine hand spear or sword? for I have neither brought my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king’s business required haste.

David asked Ahimelech, "Don't you have a spear or sword here? I didn't bring mine because the king's task was urgent."

And the priest said, The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom thou slewest in the valley of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod: if thou wilt take that, take it: for there is no other save that here. And David said, There is none like that; give it me.

The priest declared, "The sword of Goliath, the giant you defeated in Elah's valley, is here, hidden behind the sacred garment. If you want it, it's yours. There's no other like it here." David responded, "There's no sword like that one. I'll take it."

And David arose and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath.

Terrified of Saul, David fled that very day, seeking refuge with King Achish of Gath.

And the servants of Achish said unto him, Is not this David the king of the land? did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands?

Achish's servants questioned, "Isn't this David, the celebrated king? Haven't people sung and danced in his honor, praising him for his victories, saying, 'Saul has defeated thousands, but David, tens of thousands'?"

And David laid up these words in his heart, and was sore afraid of Achish the king of Gath.

David etched these words deep into his heart, trembling with intense fear of King Achish of Gath.

And he changed his behaviour before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard.

He altered his demeanor in their presence, pretending to be insane. He clawed at the gate doors and let drool drip onto his beard.

Then said Achish unto his servants, Lo, ye see the man is mad: wherefore then have ye brought him to me?

Achish, exasperated, turned to his servants and said, "Can't you see? The man is clearly out of his mind! Why on earth would you bring him to me?"

Have I need of mad men, that ye have brought this fellow to play the mad man in my presence? shall this fellow come into my house?

Do I really need more craziness in my life? Why did you bring this guy, acting all insane, into my space? Should he even be in my home?