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

And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with 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.

And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father’s house.

3 T hen Jonathan made an agreement with David, because he loved him as himself.

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

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

And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.

5 D avid 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.

And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and behaved himself 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 W hen 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.

And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick.

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

And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.

8 T hen 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?”

And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom?

9 A nd Saul was jealous and did not trust David from that day on.

And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.

10 T he 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,

And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul’s hand.

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

And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall with it. And David avoided out of his presence twice.

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

And Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with him, and was departed from Saul.

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

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

14 D avid did well in all that he did, because the Lord was with him.

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

15 W hen Saul saw how well he did, he was afraid of him.

Wherefore when Saul saw that he behaved himself 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. David Marries Saul’s Daughter

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

17 T hen 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.”

And Saul said to David, Behold my elder daughter Merab, her will I give thee to wife: only be thou valiant for me, and fight the Lord’s battles. For Saul said, Let not mine hand be upon him, but let the hand of the Philistines be upon him.

18 D avid 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?”

And David said unto 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 Saul’s daughter Merab should have been given to David, she was given to Adriel the Meholathite for a wife.

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

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

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

21 S aul 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.”

And Saul said, I will give him her, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. Wherefore Saul said to David, Thou shalt this day be my son in law in the one of the twain.

22 T hen 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.’”

And Saul commanded his servants, saying, Commune with David secretly, and say, Behold, the king hath delight in thee, and all his servants love thee: now therefore be the king’s son in law.

23 S o 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.”

And Saul’s servants spake those words in the ears of David. And David said, Seemeth it to you a light thing to be a king’s son in law, seeing that I am a poor man, and lightly esteemed?

24 S aul’s servants told Saul what David had said.

And the servants of Saul told him, saying, On this manner spake David.

25 T hen 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.

And Saul said, Thus shall ye say to David, The king desireth not any dowry, but an hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king’s enemies. But Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.

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

And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king’s son in law: and the days were not expired.

27 D avid 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.

Wherefore David arose and went, he and his men, and slew of the Philistines two hundred men; and David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full tale to the king, that he might be the king’s son in law. And Saul gave him Michal his daughter to wife.

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

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

29 S aul was even more afraid of David. So he hated David always.

And Saul was yet the more afraid of David; and Saul became David’s enemy continually.

30 T hen 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.

Then the princes of the Philistines went forth: and it came to pass, after they went forth, that David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul; so that his name was much set by.