Then came{H935} David{H1732} to Nob{H5011} to Ahimelech{H288} the priest:{H3548} and Ahimelech{H288} came to meet{H7125} David{H1732} trembling,{H2729} and said{H559} unto him, Why art thou alone, and no man{H376} with thee?

And David{H1732} said{H559} unto Ahimelech{H288} the priest,{H3548} The king{H4428} hath commanded{H6680} me a business,{H1697} and hath said{H559} unto me, Let no man{H376} know{H3045} anything{H3972} of the business{H1697} whereabout I send{H7971} thee, and what I have commanded{H6680} thee: and I have appointed{H6680} the young men{H5288} to such{H6423} and such{H492} a place.{H4725}

Now therefore what is{H3426} under thy hand?{H3027} give{H5414} me five{H2568} loaves of bread{H3899} in my hand,{H3027} or whatsoever there is present.{H4672}

And the priest{H3548} answered{H6030} David,{H1732} and said,{H559} There is no common{H2455} bread{H3899} under my hand,{H3027} but there is{H3426} holy{H6944} bread;{H3899} if only the young men{H5288} have kept{H8104} themselves from{H389} women.{H802}

And David{H1732} answered{H6030} the priest,{H3548} and said{H559} unto him, Of a truth{H518} women{H802} have been kept{H6113} from us about these three{H8032} days;{H8543} when I came out,{H3318} the vessels{H3627} of the young men{H5288} were holy,{H6944} though it was but a common{H2455} journey;{H1870} how much more then to-day{H3117} shall their vessels{H3627} be holy?{H6942}

So the priest{H3548} gave{H5414} him holy{H6944} [bread]; for there was no bread{H3899} there but the showbread,{H3899} that was taken{H5493} from before{H6440} Jehovah,{H3068} to put{H7760} hot{H2527} bread{H3899} in the day{H3117} when it was taken away.{H3947}

Now a certain man{H376} of the servants{H5650} of Saul{H7586} was there that day,{H3117} detained{H6113} before{H6440} Jehovah;{H3068} and his name{H8034} was Doeg{H1673} the Edomite,{H130} the chiefest{H47} of the herdsmen{H7462} that belonged to Saul.{H7586}

And David{H1732} said{H559} unto Ahimelech,{H288} And is there{H3426} not{H371} here under thy hand{H3027} spear{H2595} or sword?{H2719} for I have neither brought{H3947} my sword{H2719} nor my weapons{H3627} with me,{H3027} because the king's{H4428} business{H1697} required{H1961} haste.{H5169}

And the priest{H3548} said,{H559} The sword{H2719} of Goliath{H1555} the Philistine,{H6430} whom thou slewest{H5221} in the vale{H6010} of Elah,{H425} behold, it is here wrapped{H3874} in a cloth{H8071} behind{H310} the ephod:{H646} if thou wilt take{H3947} that, take{H3947} it; for there is no other{H312} save{H2108} that here.{H2088} And David{H1732} said,{H559} There is none like that; give{H5414} it me.

And David{H1732} arose,{H6965} and fled{H1272} that day{H3117} for fear{H6440} of Saul,{H7586} and went{H935} to Achish{H397} the king{H4428} of Gath.{H1661}

And the servants{H5650} of Achish{H397} said{H559} unto him, Is not this David{H1732} the king{H4428} of the land?{H776} did they not sing{H6030} one to another of him{H2088} in dances,{H4246} saying,{H559} Saul{H7586} hath slain{H5221} his thousands,{H505} And David{H1732} his ten thousands?{H7233}

And David{H1732} laid up{H7760} these words{H1697} in his heart,{H3824} and was sore{H3966} afraid{H3372} of{H6440} Achish{H397} the king{H4428} of Gath.{H1661}

And he changed{H8138} his behavior{H2940} before{H5869} them, and feigned himself mad{H1984} in their hands,{H3027} and scrabbled{H8427} on the doors{H1817} of the gate,{H8179} and let his spittle{H7388} fall down{H3381} upon his beard.{H2206}

Then said{H559} Achish{H397} unto his servants,{H5650} Lo, ye see{H7200} the man{H376} is mad;{H7696} wherefore then have ye brought{H935} him to me?

Do I lack{H2638} madmen,{H7696} that ye have brought{H935} this fellow to play the madman{H7696} in my presence? shall this fellow come{H935} into my house?{H1004}