1 Then came{H935}{(H8799)} David{H1732} to Nob{H5011} to Ahimelech{H288} the priest{H3548}: and Ahimelech{H288} was afraid{H2729}{(H8799)} at the meeting{H7125}{(H8800)} of David{H1732}, and said{H559}{(H8799)} unto him, Why art thou alone, and no man{H376} with thee?

2 And David{H1732} said{H559}{(H8799)} unto Ahimelech{H288} the priest{H3548}, The king{H4428} hath commanded{H6680}{(H8765)} me a business{H1697}, and hath said{H559}{(H8799)} unto me, Let no man{H376} know{H3045}{(H8799)} any thing{H3972} of the business{H1697} whereabout I send{H7971}{(H8802)} thee, and what I have commanded{H6680}{(H8765)} thee: and I have appointed{H3045}{(H8776)} my servants{H5288} to such{H6423} and such{H492} a place{H4725}.

3 Now therefore what is{H3426} under thine hand{H3027}? give{H5414}{(H8798)} me five{H2568} loaves of bread{H3899} in mine hand{H3027}, or what there is present{H4672}{(H8737)}.

4 And the priest{H3548} answered{H6030}{(H8799)} David{H1732}, and said{H559}{(H8799)}, There is no common{H2455} bread{H3899} under mine hand{H3027}, but there is{H3426} hallowed{H6944} bread{H3899}; if the young men{H5288} have kept{H8104}{(H8738)} themselves at least{H389} from women{H802}.

5 And David{H1732} answered{H6030}{(H8799)} the priest{H3548}, and said{H559}{(H8799)} unto him, Of a truth{H518} women{H802} have been kept{H6113}{(H8803)} from us about these three{H8032} days{H8543}, since I came out{H3318}{(H8800)}, and the vessels{H3627} of the young men{H5288} are holy{H6944}, and the bread is in a manner{H1870} common{H2455}, yea, though it were sanctified{H6942}{(H8799)} this day{H3117} in the vessel{H3627}.

6 So the priest{H3548} gave{H5414}{(H8799)} him hallowed{H6944} bread: for there was no bread{H3899} there but the shewbread{H3899}{H6440}, that was taken{H5493}{(H8716)} from before{H6440} the LORD{H3068}, to put{H7760}{(H8800)} hot{H2527} bread{H3899} in the day{H3117} when it was taken away{H3947}{(H8736)}.

7 Now a certain man{H376} of the servants{H5650} of Saul{H7586} was there that day{H3117}, detained{H6113}{(H8737)} before{H6440} the LORD{H3068}; and his name{H8034} was Doeg{H1673}, an Edomite{H130}, the chiefest{H47} of the herdmen{H7462}{(H8802)} that belonged to Saul{H7586}.

8 And David{H1732} said{H559}{(H8799)} unto Ahimelech{H288}, And is there{H3426} not{H371} here under thine hand{H3027} spear{H2595} or sword{H2719}? for I have neither brought{H3947}{(H8804)} my sword{H2719} nor my weapons{H3627} with me{H3027}, because the king's{H4428} business{H1697} required{H1961}{(H8804)} haste{H5169}{(H8803)}.

9 And the priest{H3548} said{H559}{(H8799)}, The sword{H2719} of Goliath{H1555} the Philistine{H6430}, whom thou slewest{H5221}{(H8689)} in the valley{H6010} of Elah{H425}, behold, it is here wrapped{H3874}{(H8803)} in a cloth{H8071} behind{H310} the ephod{H646}: if thou wilt take{H3947}{(H8799)} that, take{H3947}{(H8798)} it: for there is no other{H312} save{H2108} that here{H2088}. And David{H1732} said{H559}{(H8799)}, There is none like that; give{H5414}{(H8798)} it me.

10 And David{H1732} arose{H6965}{(H8799)}, and fled{H1272}{(H8799)} that day{H3117} for fear{H6440} of Saul{H7586}, and went{H935}{(H8799)} to Achish{H397} the king{H4428} of Gath{H1661}.

11 And the servants{H5650} of Achish{H397} said{H559}{(H8799)} unto him, Is not this David{H1732} the king{H4428} of the land{H776}? did they not sing{H6030}{(H8799)} one to another of him{H2088} in dances{H4246}, saying{H559}{(H8800)}, Saul{H7586} hath slain{H5221}{(H8689)} his thousands{H505}, and David{H1732} his ten thousands{H7233}?

12 And David{H1732} laid up{H7760}{(H8799)} these words{H1697} in his heart{H3824}, and was sore{H3966} afraid{H3372}{(H8799)} of{H6440} Achish{H397} the king{H4428} of Gath{H1661}.

13 And he changed{H8138}{(H8762)} his behaviour{H2940} before{H5869} them, and feigned himself mad{H1984}{(H8704)} in their hands{H3027}, and scrabbled{H8427}{(H8762)} on the doors{H1817} of the gate{H8179}, and let his spittle{H7388} fall down{H3381}{(H8686)} upon his beard{H2206}.

14 Then said{H559}{(H8799)} Achish{H397} unto his servants{H5650}, Lo, ye see{H7200}{(H8799)} the man{H376} is mad{H7696}{(H8693)}: wherefore then have ye brought{H935}{(H8686)} him to me?

15 Have I need{H2638} of mad men{H7696}{(H8794)}, that ye have brought{H935}{(H8689)} this fellow to play the mad man{H7696}{(H8692)} in my presence? shall this fellow come{H935}{(H8799)} into my house{H1004}?