1 A nd Saul speaketh unto Jonathan his son, and unto all his servants, to put David to death,

Now Saul told Jonathan his son and all his servants to kill David. But Saul’s son Jonathan found much joy in David.

2 a nd Jonathan son of Saul delighted exceedingly in David, and Jonathan declareth to David, saying, `Saul my father is seeking to put thee to death, and, now, take heed, I pray thee, in the morning, and thou hast abode in a secret place, and been hidden,

So Jonathan told David, “My father Saul wants to kill you. I beg you, be careful in the morning. Stay hidden in a secret place.

3 a nd I -- I go out, and have stood by the side of my father in the field where thou, and I speak of thee unto my father, and have seen what, and have declared to thee.'

I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are. I will speak to my father about you. If I find out anything, I will tell you.”

4 A nd Jonathan speaketh good of David unto Saul his father, and saith unto him, `Let not the king sin against his servant, against David, because he hath not sinned against thee, and because his works for thee very good;

Then Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father, saying, “Do not let the king sin against his servant David. He has not sinned against you. What he has done has been good for you.

5 y ea, he putteth his life in his hand, and smiteth the Philistine, and Jehovah worketh a great salvation for all Israel; thou hast seen, and dost rejoice, and why dost thou sin against innocent blood, to put David to death for nought?'

He put his life in danger and killed the Philistine. And the Lord helped all Israel with His saving power. You saw it and were glad. Why then will you sin against him who has done no wrong, by killing David for no reason?”

6 A nd Saul hearkeneth to the voice of Jonathan, and Saul sweareth, `Jehovah liveth -- he doth not die.'

Saul listened to Jonathan, and promised, “As the Lord lives, David will not be killed.”

7 A nd Jonathan calleth for David, and Jonathan declareth to him all these words, and Jonathan bringeth in David unto Saul, and he is before him as heretofore.

Then Jonathan called David and told him all these things. He brought David to Saul, and David stayed with Saul as before.

8 A nd there addeth to be war, and David goeth out and fighteth against the Philistines, and smiteth among them -- a great smiting, and they flee from his face.

When there was war again, David went out and fought with the Philistines. He killed many of them, and the others ran away from him.

9 A nd a spirit of sadness Jehovah is unto Saul, and he is sitting in his house, and his javelin in his hand, and David is playing with the hand,

Then a bad spirit sent from the Lord came upon Saul as he was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand. David was playing the harp.

10 a nd Saul seeketh to smite with the javelin through David, and through the wall, and he freeth himself from the presence of Saul, and he smiteth the javelin through the wall; and David hath fled and escapeth during that night.

Saul tried to nail David to the wall with the spear, but David got out of the way. Saul hit the wall with the spear, and David ran away that night.

11 A nd Saul sendeth messengers unto the house of David to watch him, and to put him to death in the morning; and Michal his wife declareth to David, saying, `If thou art not delivering thy life to-night -- tomorrow thou art put to death.'

Then Saul sent men to David’s house to watch him, that he might kill him in the morning. But David’s wife Michal told him, “If you do not save your life tonight, tomorrow you will be killed.”

12 A nd Michal causeth David to go down through the window, and he goeth on, and fleeth, and escapeth;

So Michal let David down through a window, and he ran away.

13 a nd Michal taketh the teraphim, and layeth on the bed, and the mattress of goats' she hath put his pillows, and covereth with a garment.

Michal took a house god and laid it on the bed. She put a goat hair pillow at its head, and covered it with clothes.

14 A nd Saul sendeth messengers to take David, and she saith, `He sick.'

When Saul sent men to take David, Michal said, “He is sick.”

15 A nd Saul sendeth the messengers to see David, saying, `Bring him up in the bed unto me,' -- to put him to death.

Then Saul sent men to see David, saying, “Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may kill him.”

16 A nd the messengers come in, and lo, the teraphim on the bed, and the mattress of goats', his pillows.

When the men came in, the house god was on the bed, with the goat hair pillow at its head.

17 A nd Saul saith unto Michal, `Why thus hast thou deceived me -- that thou dost send away mine enemy, and he is escaped?' and Michal saith unto Saul, `He said unto me, Send me away: why do I put thee to death?'

So Saul said to Michal, “Why have you fooled me like this and let the man I hate go? Now he has run away to be safe.” Michal said to Saul, “He said to me, ‘Let me go! Why should I kill you?’”

18 A nd David hath fled, and is escaped, and cometh in unto Samuel to Ramath, and declareth to him all that Saul hath done to him, and he goeth, he and Samuel, and they dwell in Naioth.

Now David ran away from Saul and came to Samuel at Ramah. He told him all that Saul had done to him. Then he and Samuel went and stayed in Naioth.

19 A nd it is declared to Saul, saying, `Lo, David in Naioth in Ramah.'

Saul was told, “See, David is at Naioth in Ramah.”

20 A nd Saul sendeth messengers to take David, and they see the assembly of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing, set over them, and the Spirit of God is on Saul's messengers, and they prophesy -- they also.

So Saul sent men to take David. But when they saw the men of God saying what was going to happen, with Samuel leading them, the Spirit of God came upon the men sent by Saul. And they began saying what was going to happen also.

21 A nd they declare to Saul, and he sendeth other messengers, and they prophesy -- they also; and Saul addeth and sendeth messengers a third time, and they prophesy -- they also.

When Saul heard this, he sent other men, and they began saying what was going to happen. So Saul sent men for the third time, and they began saying what was going to happen.

22 A nd he goeth -- he also -- to Ramath, and cometh in unto the great well which in Sechu, and asketh, and saith, `Where Samuel and David?' and saith, `Lo, in Naioth in Ramah.'

Then he himself went to Ramah, and came as far as the large well in Secu. He asked, “Where are Samuel and David?” And someone said, “See, they are at Naioth in Ramah.”

23 A nd he goeth thither -- unto Naioth in Ramah, and the Spirit of God is upon him -- him also; and he goeth, going on, and he prophesyeth till his coming in to Naioth in Ramah,

So he went to Naioth in Ramah. And the Spirit of God came upon him also. As he traveled he said what would happen, until he came to Naioth in Ramah.

24 a nd he strippeth off -- he also -- his garments, and prophesieth -- he also -- before Samuel, and falleth down naked all that day and all the night; therefore they say, `Is Saul also among the prophets?'

He took off his clothes and said what was going to happen in front of Samuel. He lay down without clothing all that day and all that night. So they say, “Is Saul among those who say what will happen?”