1 A nd it cometh to pass, when he finisheth to speak unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan hath been bound to the soul of David, and Jonathan loveth 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 A nd Saul taketh him on that day, and hath not permitted him to turn back to the house of his father.

Saul took David that day, and would not let him return to his father’s house.

3 A nd Jonathan maketh -- also David -- a covenant, because he loveth him as his own soul,

Then Jonathan made an agreement with David, because he loved him as himself.

4 a nd Jonathan strippeth himself of the upper robe which upon him, and giveth it to David, and his long robe, even unto his sword, and unto his bow, and unto his girdle.

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 A nd David goeth out whithersoever Saul doth send him; he acted wisely, and Saul setteth him over the men of war, and it is good in the eyes of all the people, and also in the eyes of the servants of Saul.

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 nd it cometh to pass, in their coming in, in David's returning from smiting the Philistine, that the women come out from all the cities of Israel to sing -- also the dancers -- to meet Saul the king, with tabrets, with joy, and with three-stringed instruments;

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 a nd the women answer -- those playing, and say, `Saul hath smitten among his thousands, And David among his myriads.'

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

8 A nd it is displeasing to Saul exceedingly, and this thing is evil in his eyes, and he saith, `They have given to David myriads, and to me they have given the thousands, and more to him only 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 a nd Saul is eyeing David from that day and thenceforth.

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

10 A nd it cometh to pass, on the morrow, that the spirit of sadness God prospereth over Saul, and he prophesieth in the midst of the house, and David is playing with his hand, as day by day, and the javelin in the hand of Saul,

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 casteth the javelin, and saith, `I smite through David, even through the wall;' and David turneth round out of 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 A nd Saul is afraid of the presence of David, for Jehovah hath been with him, and from Saul He hath turned aside;

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

13 a nd Saul turneth him aside from him, and appointeth him to himself head of a thousand, and he goeth out an cometh 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 A nd David is in all his ways acting wisely, and Jehovah with him,

David did well in all that he did, because the Lord was with him.

15 a nd Saul seeth that he is acting very wisely, and is afraid of him,

When Saul saw how well he did, he was afraid of him.

16 a nd all Israel and Judah love David when he is going out and coming 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 A nd Saul saith unto David, `Lo, my elder daughter Merab -- her I give to thee for a wife; only, be to me for a son of valour, and fight the battles of Jehovah;' and Saul said, `Let not my hand be on him, but let the hand of the Philistines be upon 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 A nd David saith unto Saul, `Who I? and what my life -- the family of my father in Israel -- that I am 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 A nd it cometh to pass, at the time of the giving of Merab daughter of Saul to David, that she hath been given to Adriel the Meholathite for a 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 A nd Michal daughter of Saul loveth David, and they declare to Saul, and the thing is right in his eyes,

Now Saul’s daughter Michal loved David. When they told Saul, it pleased him.

21 a nd Saul saith, `I give her to him, and she is to him for a snare, and the hand of the Philistines is on him;' and Saul saith unto David, `By the second -- thou dost become my son-in-law to-day.'

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 A nd Saul commandeth his servants, `Speak unto David gently, saying, Lo, the king hath delighted in thee, and all his servants have loved thee, and now, be son-in-law to the king.'

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 A nd the servants of Saul speak in the ears of David these words, and David saith, `Is it a light thing in your eyes to be son-in-law to the king -- and I 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 A nd the servants of Saul declare to him, saying, `According to these words hath David spoken.'

Saul’s servants told Saul what David had said.

25 A nd Saul saith, `Thus do ye say to David, There is no delight to the king in dowry, but in a hundred foreskins of the Philistines -- to be avenged on the enemies of the king;' and Saul thought to cause David to 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 A nd his servants declare to David these words, and the thing is right in the eyes of David, to be son-in-law to the king; and the days have not been full,

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

27 a nd David riseth and goeth, he and his men, and smiteth among the Philistines two hundred men, and David bringeth in their foreskins, and they set them before the king, to be son-in-law to the king; and Saul giveth to him Michal his daughter for a 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 A nd Saul seeth and knoweth that Jehovah with David, and Michal daughter of Saul hath loved him,

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

29 a nd Saul addeth to be afraid of the presence of David yet; and Saul is an enemy with David all the days.

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

30 A nd the princes of the Philistines come out, and it cometh to pass from the time of their coming out, David hath acted more wisely than any of the servants of Saul, and his name is very precious.

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.