[和合本] 就在众人面前改变了寻常的举动，在他们手下假装疯癫，在城门的门扇上胡写乱画，使唾沫流在胡子上。
[新标点] 就在众人面前改变了寻常的举动，在他们手下假装疯癫，在城门的门扇上胡写乱画，使唾沫流在胡子上。
[和合修] 于是他在众人眼前一反常态，在他们中间【“在他们中间”：原文是“在他们手中”】装疯作癫，在城门的门扇上胡写乱画，任由唾沫流在胡子上。
[新译本] 就在众人面前假装神智不健全，在他们手下装疯，在城门的门扇上胡乱涂写，又让唾沫流到胡须上。
[当代修] 就在他们面前装作疯子，在城门上胡乱涂画，任由唾沫沿着胡子流下来。
[现代修] 所以在他们面前故意装疯。他们想阻止他，他就在城【注51、“城”或译“王宫”】门上乱写乱画，让唾沫流到胡子上。
[吕振中] 就在众人面前改变了行动举止，在他们手下装疯作癫，在城门的门扇上胡敲乱打（传统：胡写乱画），让唾沫流在胡子上。
[思高本] 达味细想这些话，在加特王阿基士面前感到十分恐惧。
[文理本] 乃于众前变其举动、佯狂、妄涂于门、流涎于须、
[GNT] So whenever David was around them, he pretended to be insane and acted like a madman when they tried to restrain him; he would scribble on the city gates and let spit drool down his beard.
[BBE] So changing his behaviour before them, he made it seem as if he was off his head, hammering on the doors of the town, and letting the water from his mouth go down his chin.
[KJV] And he changed his behaviour before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard.
[NKJV] So he changed his behavior before them, feigned madness in their hands, scratched on the doors of the gate, and let his saliva fall down on his beard.
[KJ21] And he changed his behavior before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard.
[NASB] So he disguised his sanity while in their sight and acted insanely in their (Lit hand)custody, and he scribbled on the doors of the gate, and drooled on his beard.
[NRSV] So he changed his behavior before them; he pretended to be mad when in their presence. He scratched marks on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle run down his beard.
[WEB] He changed his behavior before them, and pretended to be insane in their hands, and scribbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down on his beard.
[ESV] So he changed his behavior before them and pretended to be insane in their hands and made marks on the doors of the gate and let his spittle run down his beard.
[NIV] So he pretended to be insane in their presence; and while he was in their hands he acted like a madman, making marks on the doors of the gate and letting saliva run down his beard.
[NIrV] So he pretended to be out of his mind when he was with them. As long as he was in Gath, he acted like someone who was crazy. He made marks on the doors of the city gate. He let spit run down his beard.
[HCSB] so he pretended to be insane in their presence. He acted like a madman around them,scribbling on the doors of the gate and letting saliva run down his beard.
[CSB] so he pretended to be insane in their presence. He acted like a madman around them,scribbling on the doors of the gate and letting saliva run down his beard.
[AMP] And he changed his behavior before them, and pretended to be insane in their [Philistine] hands, and scribbled on the gate doors, and drooled on his beard.
[NLT] So he pretended to be insane, scratching on doors and drooling down his beard.
[YLT] and changeth his behaviour before their eyes, and feigneth himself mad in their hand, and scribbleth on the doors of the gate, and letteth down his spittle unto his beard.