| Holman Christian Standard Bible | International Standard Version |
| 1Saul ordered his son Jonathan and all his servants to kill David. But Saul's son Jonathan liked David very much, | 1Saul told his son Jonathan and all his officials to kill David, but Saul's son Jonathan was very fond of David. |
| 2so he told him: "My father Saul intends to kill you. Be on your guard in the morning and hide in a secret place and stay there. | 2So Jonathan told David, "My father Saul is trying to kill you. In the morning be careful and stay hidden in a secret place. |
| 3I'll go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are and talk to him about you. When I see what he says, I'll tell you." | 3I'll go out and stand by my father in the field where you are. I'll speak to my father about you. If I find out what he intends to do, I'll tell you." |
| 4Jonathan spoke well of David to his father Saul. He said to him: "The king should not sin against his servant David. He hasn't sinned against you; in fact, his actions have been a great advantage to you. | 4Jonathan spoke to his father Saul favorably about David. "The king shouldn't wrong his servant David because he has not wronged you and because what he has done has been very beneficial for you. |
| 5He took his life in his hands when he struck down the Philistine, and the LORD brought about a great victory for all Israel. You saw it and rejoiced, so why would you sin against innocent blood by killing David for no reason?" | 5He risked his life and struck down the Philistine, and the LORD brought about a spectacular deliverance for all Israel. You saw that and rejoiced, so why would you do wrong and shed innocent blood by killing David without cause?" |
| 6Saul listened to Jonathan's advice and swore an oath: "As surely as the LORD lives, David will not be killed." | 6Saul listened to Jonathan, and swore by the life of the LORD that David would not be killed. |
| 7So Jonathan summoned David and told him all these words. Then Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he served him as he did before. | 7Jonathan summoned David and told him all this. Then Jonathan brought David to Saul, and David served him as before. |
| 8When war broke out again, David went out and fought against the Philistines. He defeated them with such a great force that they fled from him. | 8The war continued and David went out to fight against the Philistines. He thoroughly defeated them, and they fled before David. |
| 9Now an evil spirit sent from the LORD came on Saul as he was sitting in his palace holding a spear. David was playing the lyre, | 9The evil spirit from the LORD attacked Saul while he was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand and David was playing the lyre. |
| 10and Saul tried to pin David to the wall with the spear. As the spear struck the wall, David eluded Saul, ran away, and escaped that night. | 10Saul tried to pin David to the wall with the spear, but he jumped away from Saul and the spear stuck in the wall. That night David escaped and fled. |
| 11Saul sent agents to David's house to watch for him and kill him in the morning. But his wife Michal warned David, "If you don't escape tonight, you will be dead tomorrow!" | 11Saul sent messengers to David's house to watch him so they could kill him in the morning. David's wife, Michal, told him, "If you don't escape with your life tonight, tomorrow you'll be put to death." |
| 12So she lowered David from the window, and he fled and escaped. | 12So Michal let David down through the window, and he escaped and fled. |
| 13Then Michal took the household idol and put it on the bed, placed some goat hair on its head, and covered it with a garment. | 13Then Michal took the household idol and laid it on the bed with a cover of goat hair placed at its head. Then she covered it with clothes. |
| 14When Saul sent agents to seize David, Michal said, "He's sick." | 14When Saul sent the messengers to take David, Michal said, "He's sick." |
| 15Saul sent the agents back to see David and said, "Bring him on his bed so I can kill him." | 15Then Saul sent messengers to check on David. He told them, "Bring him to me on the bed so I may kill him." |
| 16When the messengers arrived, to their surprise, the household idol was on the bed with some goat hair on its head. | 16The messengers went in, and there was the household idol in the bed with the cover of goat hair at its head! |
| 17Saul asked Michal, "Why did you deceive me like this? You sent my enemy away, and he has escaped!" She answered him, "He said to me, 'Let me go! Why should I kill you?'" | 17Then Saul told Michal, "Why did you deceive me like this and let my enemy go so he could escape?" Michal told Saul, "He told me, 'Let me go or I'll kill you!'" |
| 18So David fled and escaped and went to Samuel at Ramah and told him everything Saul had done to him. Then he and Samuel left and stayed at Naioth. | 18David escaped and fled. He came to Samuel at Ramah and told him all that Saul had done to him. Then he and Samuel went and stayed at Naioth. |
| 19When it was reported to Saul that David was at Naioth in Ramah, | 19It was reported to Saul saying, "David is at Naioth in Ramah right now." |
| 20he sent agents to seize David. However, when they saw the group of prophets prophesying with Samuel leading them, the Spirit of God came on Saul's agents, and they also started prophesying. | 20Saul sent messengers to take David, and they saw a group of prophets caught up in prophetic ecstasy, with Samuel standing beside them leading them. Then the Spirit of God came on Saul's messengers, and they also were caught up in prophetic ecstasy. |
| 21When they reported to Saul, he sent other agents, and they also began prophesying. So Saul tried again and sent a third group of agents, and even they began prophesying. | 21They reported this to Saul, he sent other messengers, and they also were caught up in prophetic ecstasy. |
| 22Then Saul himself went to Ramah. He came to the large cistern at Secu, looked around, and asked, "Where are Samuel and David?" "At Naioth in Ramah," someone said. | 22Then Saul himself went to Ramah, and he arrived at the large well that is in Secu. He asked, "Where are Samuel and David?" Someone replied, "They're at Naioth in Ramah." |
| 23So he went to Naioth in Ramah. The Spirit of God also came on him, and as he walked along, he prophesied until he entered Naioth in Ramah. | 23Saul went to Naioth in Ramah, and the Spirit of God came on him also. He continued in prophetic ecstasy until he came to Naioth in Ramah. |
| 24Saul then removed his clothes and also prophesied before Samuel; he collapsed and lay naked all that day and all that night. That is why they say, "Is Saul also among the prophets?" | 24He also removed his clothes and was caught up in prophetic ecstasy right in front of Samuel! He fell down naked and remained there all that day and all night. That is why people say, "Is Saul also among the prophets?" |
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