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

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 him that day, and would let him go no more home 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 and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.

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

4 J onathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him, and gave it to David, and his clothing, even including his sword, his bow, and his sash.

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 out wherever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely; and Saul set him over the men of war. It was good in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of 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 A s they came, when David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tambourines, with joy, and with instruments of music.

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 to one another as they played, and said, “Saul has slain his thousands, 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 S aul was very angry, and this saying displeased him. He said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed only thousands. What can he have more but the kingdom?”

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 S aul watched David from that day and forward.

And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.

10 O n the next day, an evil spirit from God came mightily on Saul, and he prophesied in the middle of the house. David played with his hand, as he did day by day. Saul had his 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 Saul threw the spear, for he said, “I will pin David even to the wall!” David escaped from his presence 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 Yahweh was with him, and had departed from Saul.

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

13 T herefore Saul removed him from his presence, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before 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 behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and Yahweh was with him.

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

15 W hen Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he stood in awe 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.

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

17 S aul said to David, “Behold, my elder daughter Merab, I will give her to you as wife. Only be valiant for me, and fight Yahweh’s battles.” For Saul said, “Don’t let my hand be on him, but let the hand of the Philistines be on 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, and what is my life, or my father’s family in Israel, that I should be son-in-law to the king?”

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 Merab, Saul’s daughter, should have been given to David, she was given to Adriel the Meholathite as 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 M ichal, Saul’s daughter, loved David; and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him.

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

21 S aul 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, “You shall today be my son-in-law a second time.”

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 S aul commanded his servants, “Talk with David secretly, and say, ‘Behold, the king has delight in you, and all his servants love you. Now therefore be 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 aul’s servants spoke those words in the ears of David. David said, “Does it seems to you a light thing to be the king’s son-in-law, since I am a poor man, and lightly esteemed?”

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 T he servants of Saul told him, saying, “David spoke like this.”

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

25 S aul said, “Tell David, ‘The king desires no dowry except one hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king’s enemies.’” Now Saul thought he would make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.

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 David these words, it pleased David well to be the king’s son-in-law. Before the deadline,

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 arose and went, he and his men, and killed two hundred men of the Philistines. Then David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full number to the king, that he might be the king’s son-in-law. Then Saul gave him Michal his daughter as 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 S aul saw and knew that Yahweh was with David; and Michal, Saul’s daughter, 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; and Saul was David’s enemy continually.

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

30 T hen the princes of the Philistines went out; and as often as they went out, David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul, so that his name was highly esteemed.

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.