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 became one with the soul of David. 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 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 an agreement 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 took off his long coat and gave it to David. He gave him his battle-clothes, his sword, his bow and his belt also.

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.

David 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.

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.

When 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.

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 killed 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. 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?”

9 S aul watched David from that day and forward.

And Saul was jealous and did not trust David from that day on.

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 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,

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 he threw the spear, thinking, “I will nail David to the wall.” But David jumped out of his way 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 left 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 made David go away from him, and had him lead a thousand men. And David went out to the people.

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

David did well in all that he did, because 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 well he did, 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, for he went out and came in before them. David Marries Saul’s Daughter

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, 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.”

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

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

Now Saul’s daughter Michal loved David. When they told Saul, 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 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.”

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 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.’”

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 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.”

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

Saul’s servants told Saul what David had 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.

Then 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.

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 this to David, it pleased him to become the king’s son-in-law. Before the time was finished,

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 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.

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 his daughter Michal loved him,

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

Saul was even more afraid of David. So he hated David always.

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 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.