Too bad for us! Who can deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? These are the gods who struck the Egyptians with all sorts of plagues in the desert!

Be strong and act like men, you Philistines, or else you will wind up serving the Hebrews the way they have served you! Act like men and fight!”

Then Saul said, “All you leaders of the army come here. Find out ¹  how this sin occurred today.

But David’s men said to him, “We are afraid while we are still here in Judah! What will it be like if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?”

The king’s servants replied to the king, “We will do whatever our lord the king decides.” ¹ 

I represent the peaceful and the faithful in Israel. You are attempting to destroy an important city ¹  in Israel. Why should you swallow up the Lord’s inheritance?”

Some of the prophets ¹  said to Elisha, “Look, the place where we meet with you ²  is too cramped ³  for us.

All Israel joined David at Hebron and said, “Look, we are your very flesh and blood! ¹ 

For we are resident foreigners and nomads in your presence, like all our ancestors; ¹  our days are like a shadow on the earth, without security. ² 

In light of the fact that we are loyal to the king, ¹  and since it does not seem appropriate to us that the king should sustain damage, ²  we are sending the king this information ³ 

Get up, for this matter concerns you. We are with you, so be strong and act decisively!”

Hear, O our God, for we are despised! Return their reproach on their own head! Reduce them to plunder in a land of exile!

Then those in Judah said, “The strength of the laborers ¹  has failed! The debris is so great that we are unable to rebuild the wall.”

There were others who said, “We are putting up our fields, our vineyards, and our houses as collateral in order to obtain grain during the famine.”

Then there were those who said, “We have borrowed money to pay our taxes to the king ¹  on our fields and our vineyards.

If ¹  his sons are honored, ²  he does not know it; ³  if they are brought low, he does not see ⁴  it.

“Therefore, listen to me, you men of understanding. ¹  Far be it from ²  God to do wickedness, from the Almighty to do evil.

Tell us what we should ¹  say to him. We cannot prepare a case ²  because of the darkness.

The Lord helps them and rescues them; he rescues them from evil men and delivers them, ¹  for they seek his protection.

May the Lord protect him and save his life! ¹  May he be blessed ²  in the land! Do not turn him over ³  to his enemies! ⁴