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.

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

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

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

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 to one another as they played, and said, “Saul has slain his thousands, 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 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 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 S aul watched David from that day and forward.

And Saul eyed David from that day 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;

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

12 S aul was afraid of David, because Yahweh was with him, and had departed from Saul.

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

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 behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and Yahweh was with him.

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

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

But all Israel and Judah loved David, for 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.”

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, and what is my life, or my father’s family in Israel, that I should be son-in-law to the king?”

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

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

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 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 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 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?”

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

And the servants of Saul told him what David said.

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.

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

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 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.

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 S aul saw and knew that Yahweh was with David; and Michal, Saul’s daughter, 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; and Saul was David’s enemy continually.

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

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 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.