So David told him, “Look, tomorrow is the New Moon,(A) and I’m supposed to sit down and eat with the king.(B) Instead, let me go, and I’ll hide in the countryside for the next two nights.[a](C) If your father misses me at all, say, ‘David urgently requested my permission to go quickly to his hometown, Bethlehem,(D) for an annual sacrifice(E) there involving the whole clan.’ If he says, ‘Good,’ then your servant is safe, but if he becomes angry, you will know he has evil intentions.

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Footnotes

  1. 20:5 Lit countryside until the third night

So David said, “Look, tomorrow is the New Moon feast,(A) and I am supposed to dine with the king; but let me go and hide(B) in the field until the evening of the day after tomorrow. If your father misses me at all, tell him, ‘David earnestly asked my permission(C) to hurry to Bethlehem,(D) his hometown, because an annual(E) sacrifice is being made there for his whole clan.’ If he says, ‘Very well,’ then your servant is safe. But if he loses his temper,(F) you can be sure that he is determined(G) to harm me.

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