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.

When 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.

2 S aul took David that day, and would 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 an agreement with David, because he loved him as himself.

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

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 on him and gave it to David, and his armor, even his sword, his bow, and 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 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.

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.

As 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.

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

And the women responded as they laughed and frolicked, saying, Saul has 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 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?

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

And Saul eyed David from that day 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,

The 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.

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 thought, I will pin David to the wall. And David evaded him twice.

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

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

So Saul removed David from him and made him his commander 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.

David acted wisely in all his ways and succeeded, and the Lord was with him.

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

When Saul saw how capable and successful David was, he stood in awe 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, for 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.”

Saul 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.

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?”

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?

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

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

Now Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved David; and they told Saul, and it 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.”

Saul 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.

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 to speak to David privately and say, The king delights in you, and all his servants love you; now then, become 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.”

Saul’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?

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

And the servants of Saul told him what David said.

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.

Saul 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.

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,

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

David 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.

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

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

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

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

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 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.