1 N ow it came about when he had finished speaking to Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as himself.

When David had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan became one with the soul of David. Jonathan loved him as himself.

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

Saul took David that day, and would not let him return to his father’s house.

3 T hen Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.

Then Jonathan made an agreement with David, because he loved him as himself.

4 J onathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, with his armor, including his sword and his bow and his belt.

Jonathan took off his long coat and gave it to David. He gave him his battle-clothes, his sword, his bow and his belt also.

5 S o David went out wherever Saul sent him, and prospered; and Saul set him over the men of war. And it was pleasing in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul’s servants.

David went everywhere that Saul sent him, and did well. Saul had him lead the men of war. And it was pleasing to all the people and to Saul’s servants.

6 I t happened as they were coming, when David returned from killing the Philistine, that the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with joy and with musical instruments.

When David returned from killing the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, playing songs of joy on timbrels.

7 T he women sang as they played, and said, “ Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands.”

The women sang as they played, and said, “Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands.”

8 T hen Saul became very angry, for this saying displeased him; and he said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, but to me they have ascribed thousands. Now what more can he have but the kingdom?”

Then Saul became very angry. This saying did not please him. He said, “They have given David honor for ten thousands, but for me only thousands. Now what more can he have but to be king?”

9 S aul looked at David with suspicion from that day on. Saul Turns against David

And Saul was jealous and did not trust David from that day on.

10 N ow it came about on the next day that an evil spirit from God came mightily upon Saul, and he raved in the midst of the house, while David was playing the harp with his hand, as usual; and a spear was in Saul’s hand.

The next day a bad spirit sent from God came upon Saul with power. He acted like a crazy man in his house, while David was playing the harp. Saul had a spear in his hand,

11 S aul hurled the spear for he thought, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David escaped from his presence twice.

and he threw the spear, thinking, “I will nail David to the wall.” But David jumped out of his way twice.

12 N ow Saul was afraid of David, for the Lord was with him but had departed from Saul.

Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with him but had left Saul.

13 T herefore Saul removed him from his presence and appointed him as his commander of a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people.

So Saul made David go away from him, and had him lead a thousand men. And David went out to the people.

14 D avid was prospering in all his ways for the Lord was with him.

David did well in all that he did, because the Lord was with him.

15 W hen Saul saw that he was prospering greatly, he dreaded him.

When Saul saw how well he did, he was afraid of him.

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

But all Israel and Judah loved David, for he went out and came in before them. David Marries Saul’s Daughter

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

Then Saul said to David, “Here is my older daughter Merab. I will give her to you as a wife, if you only work for me with strength of heart and fight the Lord’s battles.” For Saul thought, “I will not go against him. Let the Philistines go against him.”

18 B ut David 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?”

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

19 S o it came about at the time when Merab, Saul’s daughter, should have been given to David, that she was given to Adriel the Meholathite for a wife. David Marries Saul’s Daughter

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

20 N ow Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved David. When they told Saul, the thing was agreeable to him.

Now Saul’s daughter Michal loved David. When they told Saul, it pleased him.

21 S aul thought, “I will give her to him that she may become a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” Therefore Saul said to David, “ For a second time you may be my son-in-law today.”

Saul thought, “I will give her to David. I will use her to trap him, and the Philistines will go against him.” So Saul said to David a second time, “Now you may be my son-in-law.”

22 T hen Saul commanded his servants, “Speak to David secretly, saying, ‘Behold, the king delights in you, and all his servants love you; now therefore, become the king’s son-in-law.’”

Then Saul told his servants, “Speak to David in secret. Tell him, ‘See, the king is happy with you, and all his servants love you. So now become the king’s son-in-law.’”

23 S o Saul’s servants spoke these words to David. But David said, “Is it trivial in your sight to become the king’s son-in-law, since I am a poor man and lightly esteemed?”

So Saul’s servants said this to David. But David said, “Is it not important to you to become the king’s son-in-law? I am only a poor man and am not very respected.”

24 T he servants of Saul reported to him according to these words which David spoke.

Saul’s servants told Saul what David had said.

25 S aul then said, “Thus you shall say to David, ‘The king does not desire any dowry except a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to take vengeance on the king’s enemies.’” Now Saul planned to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.

Then Saul said, “Say to David, ‘The king wants no marriage gift except the pieces of skin from the sex parts of a hundred Philistines, to punish those who hate the king.’” Saul planned to have the Philistines kill David.

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

When his servants told this to David, it pleased him to become the king’s son-in-law. Before the time was finished,

27 D avid rose up and went, he and his men, and struck down two hundred men among the Philistines. Then David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full number to the king, that he might become the king’s son-in-law. So Saul gave him Michal his daughter for a wife.

David and his men went and killed 200 Philistine men. Then David brought their pieces of flesh and gave all of them to the king, that he might become the king’s son-in-law. So Saul gave him his daughter Michal for a wife.

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

When Saul saw and knew that the Lord was with David and that his daughter Michal loved him,

29 t hen Saul was even more afraid of David. Thus Saul was David’s enemy continually.

Saul was even more afraid of David. So he hated David always.

30 T hen the commanders of the Philistines went out to battle, and it happened as often as they went out, that David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul. So his name was highly esteemed.

Then the Philistine leaders went out to battle. And when they did, David acted with more wisdom than all the servants of Saul. So his name became very important.