1 Samuel 29

Now the Philistines gathered together all their armies to Aphek: and the Israelites pitched by a fountain which is in Jezreel.

The Philistines, united in strength, assembled their forces in Aphek. Meanwhile, the Israelites set up camp by a serene fountain in Jezreel, their hearts filled with anticipation.

And the lords of the Philistines passed on by hundreds, and by thousands: but David and his men passed on in the rereward with Achish.

The mighty Philistine leaders marched forward in their hundreds and thousands. But David and his men, they moved at the rear, alongside Achish, with determination and courage in their hearts.

Then said the princes of the Philistines, What do these Hebrews here? And Achish said unto the princes of the Philistines, Is not this David, the servant of Saul the king of Israel, which hath been with me these days, or these years, and I have found no fault in him since he fell unto me unto this day?

The Philistine leaders questioned, "Why are these Hebrews here?" Achish responded, "Isn't this David, the servant of Saul, king of Israel? He's been with me for some time now, and I've found no fault in him since he joined me."

And the princes of the Philistines were wroth with him; and the princes of the Philistines said unto him, Make this fellow return, that he may go again to his place which thou hast appointed him, and let him not go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he be an adversary to us: for wherewith should he reconcile himself unto his master? should it not be with the heads of these men?

The Philistine leaders were furious with him. They demanded, "Send this man back to where you assigned him. Don't let him join us in battle. He might turn against us. How else would he regain his master's favor, if not by fighting against us?"

Is not this David, of whom they sang one to another in dances, saying, Saul slew his thousands, and David his ten thousands?

Isn't this David, the one they joyfully sing about in their dances? They celebrate, "Saul has conquered thousands, but David, tens of thousands!"

Then Achish called David, and said unto him, Surely, as the LORD liveth, thou hast been upright, and thy going out and thy coming in with me in the host is good in my sight: for I have not found evil in thee since the day of thy coming unto me unto this day: nevertheless the lords favour thee not.

Achish summoned David, saying, "By God's life, you've been honest. Your actions with me have been good, I've seen no evil in you from the day you arrived till now. But sadly, the lords don't favor you."

Wherefore now return, and go in peace, that thou displease not the lords of the Philistines.

Now, please go back peacefully, so you won't upset the Philistine leaders.

And David said unto Achish, But what have I done? and what hast thou found in thy servant so long as I have been with thee unto this day, that I may not go fight against the enemies of my lord the king?

David pleaded with Achish, "What wrong have I done? What fault have you found in me since I've been with you, that I can't join the battle against my king's enemies?"

And Achish answered and said to David, I know that thou art good in my sight, as an angel of God: notwithstanding the princes of the Philistines have said, He shall not go up with us to the battle.

Achish responded to David, "I see you as a divine angel, pure and good. However, the Philistine leaders have decided that you cannot join us in the battle."

Wherefore now rise up early in the morning with thy master’s servants that are come with thee: and as soon as ye be up early in the morning, and have light, depart.

Get up at dawn with those who came with you, your master's servants. As soon as it's light, leave.

So David and his men rose up early to depart in the morning, to return into the land of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel.

As dawn broke, David and his men, filled with determination, set off to return to the Philistine lands. Meanwhile, the Philistines, with a sense of purpose, journeyed towards Jezreel.