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.

Now 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.

2 S aul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father’s house.

Saul took him that day and did 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 himself.

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.

Jonathan 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.

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.

So 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.

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.

It 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.

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

The women sang as they played, and said, “ 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?”

Then 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?”

9 S aul watched David from that day and forward.

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

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;

Now 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.

11 a nd Saul threw the spear, for he said, “I will pin David even to the wall!” David escaped from his presence twice.

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

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

Now Saul was afraid of David, for 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.

Therefore 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.

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

David was prospering in all his ways for 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 that he was prospering greatly, he dreaded 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, and 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.”

Then 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.”

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?”

But 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.

So 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

20 M ichal, Saul’s daughter, loved David; and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him.

Now Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved David. When they told Saul, the thing was agreeable to 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 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.”

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.’”

Then 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.’”

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?”

So 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?”

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

The servants of Saul reported to him according to these words which David spoke.

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 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.

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 David to become the king’s son-in-law. Before the days had 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 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.

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, Saul’s daughter, loved him,

29 S aul was even more afraid of David; and Saul was David’s enemy continually.

then Saul was even more afraid of David. Thus Saul was 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 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.