1 W hen David had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own life.

Now when he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.

2 S aul took David that day and would not let him return to his father’s house.

Saul took him that day, and would not let him go home to his father’s house anymore.

3 T hen Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own life.

Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.

4 A nd Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, and his armor, even his sword, his bow, and his girdle.

And Jonathan took off the robe that was on him and gave it to David, with his armor, even to his sword and his bow and his belt.

5 A nd David went out wherever Saul sent him, and he prospered and behaved himself wisely; and Saul set him over the men of war. And it was satisfactory both to the people and to Saul’s servants.

So David went out wherever Saul sent him, and behaved wisely. And Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul’s servants.

6 A s they were coming home, when David returned from killing the Philistine, the women came out of all the Israelite towns, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul with timbrels, songs of joy, and instruments of music.

Now it had happened as they were coming home, when David was returning from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women had come out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with joy, and with musical instruments.

7 A nd the women responded as they laughed and frolicked, saying, Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.

So the women sang as they danced, and said: “Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands.”

8 A nd Saul was very angry, for the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed to David ten thousands, but to me they have ascribed only thousands. What more can he have but the kingdom?

Then Saul was very angry, and the saying displeased him; and he said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed only thousands. Now what more can he have but the kingdom?”

9 A nd Saul eyed David from that day forward.

So Saul eyed David from that day forward.

10 T he next day an evil spirit from God came mightily upon Saul, and he raved in his house, while David played with his hand, as at other times; and there was a javelin in Saul’s hand.

And it happened on the next day that the distressing spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied inside the house. So David played music with his hand, as at other times; but there was a spear in Saul’s hand.

11 A nd Saul cast the javelin, for he thought, I will pin David to the wall. And David evaded him twice.

And Saul cast the spear, for he said, “I will pin David to the wall!” But David escaped his presence twice.

12 S aul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with him but had departed from Saul.

Now Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with him, but had departed from Saul.

13 S o Saul removed David from him and made him his commander over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people.

Therefore Saul removed him from his presence, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people.

14 D avid acted wisely in all his ways and succeeded, and the Lord was with him.

And David behaved wisely in all his ways, and the Lord was with him.

15 W hen Saul saw how capable and successful David was, he stood in awe of him.

Therefore, when Saul saw that he behaved very wisely, he was afraid of him.

16 B ut all Israel and Judah loved David, for he went out and came in before them.

But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them. David Marries Michal

17 S aul said to David, My elder daughter Merab I will give you as wife; only serve me courageously and fight the Lord’s battles. For Saul thought, Let not my hand, but the Philistines’ hand, be upon him.

Then Saul said to David, “Here is my older daughter Merab; I will give her to you as a wife. Only be valiant for me, and fight the Lord ’s battles.” For Saul thought, “Let my hand not be against him, but let the hand of the Philistines be against him.”

18 D avid said to Saul, Who am I, and what is my life or my father’s family in Israel, that I should be the king’s son-in-law?

So David said to Saul, “Who am I, and what is my life or my father’s family in Israel, that I should be son-in-law to the king?”

19 B ut at the time when Merab, Saul’s daughter, should have been given to David, she was given to Adriel the Meholathite as wife.

But it happened at the time when Merab, Saul’s daughter, should have been given to David, that she was given to Adriel the Meholathite as a wife.

20 N ow Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved David; and they told Saul, and it pleased him.

Now Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved David. And they told Saul, and the thing pleased him.

21 S aul thought, I will give her to him that she may be a snare to him and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. So Saul said to David a second time, You shall now be my son-in-law.

So Saul said, “I will give her to him, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” Therefore Saul said to David a second time, “You shall be my son-in-law today.”

22 A nd Saul commanded his servants to speak to David privately and say, The king delights in you, and all his servants love you; now then, become son-in-law.

And Saul commanded his servants, “Communicate with David secretly, and say, ‘Look, the king has delight in you, and all his servants love you. Now therefore, become the king’s son-in-law.’”

23 S aul’s servants told those words to David. David said, Does it seem to you a light thing to be a king’s son-in-law, seeing I am a poor man and lightly esteemed?

So Saul’s servants spoke those words in the hearing of David. And David said, “Does it seem to you a light thing to be a king’s son-in-law, seeing I am a poor and lightly esteemed man?”

24 A nd the servants of Saul told him what David said.

And the servants of Saul told him, saying, “In this manner David spoke.”

25 S aul said, Say this to David, The king wants no dowry but a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to avenge himself of the king’s enemies. But Saul thought to make David fall by the Philistines’ hands.

Then Saul said, “Thus you shall say to David: ‘The king does not desire any dowry but one hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to take vengeance on the king’s enemies.’” But Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.

26 W hen his servants told David these words, it pleased well to become the king’s son-in-law. Before the days expired,

So when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to become the king’s son-in-law. Now the days had not expired;

27 D avid went, he and his men, and slew two hundred Philistine men, and brought their foreskins and gave them in full number to the king, that he might become the king’s son-in-law. And Saul gave him Michal his daughter as wife.

therefore David arose and went, he and his men, and killed two hundred men of the Philistines. And David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full count to the king, that he might become the king’s son-in-law. Then Saul gave him Michal his daughter as a wife.

28 W hen Saul saw and knew that the Lord was with David and that Michal daughter loved him,

Thus Saul saw and knew that the Lord was with David, and that Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved him;

29 S aul was still more afraid of David; and Saul became David’s constant enemy.

and Saul was still more afraid of David. So Saul became David’s enemy continually.

30 T hen the Philistine princes came out to battle, and when they did so, David had more success and behaved himself more wisely than all Saul’s servants, so that his name was very dear and highly esteemed.

Then the princes of the Philistines went out to war. And so it was, whenever they went out, that David behaved more wisely than all the servants of Saul, so that his name became highly esteemed.