1 Samuel 22

David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father’s house heard it, they went down thither to him.

So David fled and found refuge in the cave of Adullam. When his family heard about this, they rushed to his side, offering their support.

And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.

All those burdened with sorrow, debt, and dissatisfaction rallied around him. He became their leader, their beacon of hope, guiding about four hundred souls.

And David went thence to Mizpeh of Moab: and he said unto the king of Moab, Let my father and my mother, I pray thee, come forth, and be with you, till I know what God will do for me.

David then journeyed to Mizpeh in Moab. He pleaded with the Moabite king, "Please, let my parents stay with you. I need them safe until I understand God's plan for me."

And he brought them before the king of Moab: and they dwelt with him all the while that David was in the hold.

He presented them to the king of Moab, where they stayed for the entire time David was in hiding.

And the prophet Gad said unto David, Abide not in the hold; depart, and get thee into the land of Judah. Then David departed, and came into the forest of Hareth.

The prophet Gad, with a stern voice, urged David, "Don't stay hidden; go, make your way to Judah's land." So, David, with a heavy heart, left and found solace in the Hareth forest.

When Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men that were with him, (now Saul abode in Gibeah under a tree in Ramah, having his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing about him;)

When Saul learned that David and his men had been found, he was in Gibeah, sitting under a tree in Ramah, spear in hand, surrounded by his servants. His heart pounded with anticipation and his grip tightened on his spear.

Then Saul said unto his servants that stood about him, Hear now, ye Benjamites; will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and vineyards, and make you all captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds;

Saul turned to his servants, his voice heavy with skepticism, "Listen, my fellow Benjamites, do you really believe Jesse's son will generously gift you fields and vineyards? Will he truly make you leaders of thousands, even hundreds?"

That all of you have conspired against me, and there is none that sheweth me that my son hath made a league with the son of Jesse, and there is none of you that is sorry for me, or sheweth unto me that my son hath stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?

You've all betrayed me, not one of you told me about my son's alliance with Jesse's son. None of you feel sorry for me or informed me that my son has turned my servant against me, plotting behind my back, even now.

Then answered Doeg the Edomite, which was set over the servants of Saul, and said, I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub.

Doeg the Edomite, who led Saul's servants, spoke up. He said, "I saw Jesse's son heading to Nob, to meet Ahimelech, Ahitub's son."

And he enquired of the LORD for him, and gave him victuals, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.

He asked God for guidance on his behalf, provided him with food, and gifted him the powerful sword that once belonged to Goliath, the Philistine.

Then the king sent to call Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father’s house, the priests that were in Nob: and they came all of them to the king.

The king summoned Ahimelech, the priest and son of Ahitub, along with all the priests from his family in Nob. They all obediently came to the king.

And Saul said, Hear now, thou son of Ahitub. And he answered, Here I am, my lord.

Saul called out, "Listen, Ahitub's son!" The reply came, "I'm here, my leader."

And Saul said unto him, Why have ye conspired against me, thou and the son of Jesse, in that thou hast given him bread, and a sword, and hast enquired of God for him, that he should rise against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?

Saul asked him, "Why have you betrayed me? You and Jesse's son, giving him food, a sword, and even seeking God's guidance for him. Are you helping him plot against me, even now?"

Then Ahimelech answered the king, and said, And who is so faithful among all thy servants as David, which is the king’s son in law, and goeth at thy bidding, and is honourable in thine house?

Ahimelech responded to the king, "Who among your servants is as loyal as David, your son-in-law? He follows your commands and is respected in your household."

Did I then begin to enquire of God for him? be it far from me: let not the king impute any thing unto his servant, nor to all the house of my father: for thy servant knew nothing of all this, less or more.

Did I really start asking God for him? Absolutely not! I hope the king doesn't blame me or my family, because honestly, I had no clue about any of this.

And the king said, Thou shalt surely die, Ahimelech, thou, and all thy father’s house.

The king declared, "Ahimelech, you will surely die, you and your whole family!"

And the king said unto the footmen that stood about him, Turn, and slay the priests of the LORD: because their hand also is with David, and because they knew when he fled, and did not shew it to me. But the servants of the king would not put forth their hand to fall upon the priests of the LORD.

The king ordered his guards, "Kill the Lord's priests. They're siding with David and hid his escape from me." But his men refused to harm the holy priests.

And the king said to Doeg, Turn thou, and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell upon the priests, and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ephod.

The king ordered Doeg, "Attack the priests." Doeg, the Edomite, obeyed. He turned on the priests, killing eighty-five of them, all dressed in their sacred linen robes, in a single day.

And Nob, the city of the priests, smote he with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and sucklings, and oxen, and asses, and sheep, with the edge of the sword.

He put Nob, the city of priests, to the sword, sparing no one - men, women, even children and infants. Not even the animals - oxen, donkeys, and sheep - escaped his sword.

And one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped, and fled after David.

Abiathar, the son of Ahimelech and grandson of Ahitub, narrowly escaped. Terrified, he sought refuge with David.

And Abiathar shewed David that Saul had slain the LORD’s priests.

Abiathar revealed to David, with a heavy heart, that Saul had mercilessly killed the Lord's holy priests.

And David said unto Abiathar, I knew it that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul: I have occasioned the death of all the persons of thy father’s house.

David confessed to Abiathar, "I realized that day, when Doeg was present, he would definitely inform Saul. I'm responsible for the tragedy that befell your family."

Abide thou with me, fear not: for he that seeketh my life seeketh thy life: but with me thou shalt be in safeguard.

Stay with me, don't be afraid. The one who wants to kill me wants to kill you too. But with me, you'll be safe.