| NET Bible | Berean Study Bible |
| 1When David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan and David became bound together in close friendship. Jonathan loved David as much as he did his own life. | 1After David had finished speaking with Saul, the souls of Jonathan and David were knit together, and Jonathan loved him as himself. |
| 2Saul retained David on that day and did not allow him to return to his father's house. | 2And from that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return to his father’s house. |
| 3Jonathan made a covenant with David, for he loved him as much as he did his own life. | 3Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. |
| 4Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with the rest of his gear, including his sword, his bow, and even his belt. | 4And Jonathan removed the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, his sword, his bow, and his belt. |
| 5On every mission on which Saul sent him, David achieved success. So Saul appointed him over the men of war. This pleased not only all the army, but also Saul's servants. | 5So David marched out and prospered in everything Saul sent him to do, and Saul set him over the men of war. And this was pleasing in the sight of all the people, and of Saul’s officers as well. |
| 6When the men arrived after David returned from striking down the Philistine, the women from all the cities of Israel came out singing and dancing to meet King Saul. They were happy as they played their tambourines and three-stringed instruments. | 6As the troops were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs, and with tambourines and other instruments. |
| 7The women who were playing the music sang, "Saul has struck down his thousands, but David his tens of thousands!" | 7And as the women danced, they sang out: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.” |
| 8This made Saul very angry. The statement displeased him and he thought, "They have attributed to David tens of thousands, but to me they have attributed only thousands. What does he lack, except the kingdom?" | 8And Saul was furious and resented this song. “They have ascribed tens of thousands to David,” he said, “but only thousands to me. What more can he have but the kingdom?” |
| 9So Saul was keeping an eye on David from that day onward. | 9And from that day forward Saul kept a jealous eye on David. |
| 10The next day an evil spirit from God rushed upon Saul and he prophesied within his house. Now David was playing the lyre that day. There was a spear in Saul's hand, | 10The next day a spirit of distress sent from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied inside the house while David played the harp as usual. Now Saul was holding a spear, |
| 11and Saul threw the spear, thinking, "I'll nail David to the wall!" But David escaped from him on two different occasions. | 11and he hurled it, thinking, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David eluded him twice. |
| 12So Saul feared David, because the LORD was with him but had departed from Saul. | 12So Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with David but had departed from Saul. |
| 13Saul removed David from his presence and made him a commanding officer. David led the army out to battle and back. | 13Therefore Saul sent David away and gave him command of a thousand men. David led the troops out to battle and back, |
| 14Now David achieved success in all he did, for the LORD was with him. | 14and he continued to prosper in all his ways, because the LORD was with him. |
| 15When Saul saw how very successful he was, he was afraid of him. | 15When Saul saw that David was very successful, he was afraid of him. |
| 16But all Israel and Judah loved David, for he was the one leading them out to battle and back. | 16But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he was leading them out to battle and back. |
| 17Then Saul said to David, "Here's my oldest daughter, Merab. I want to give her to you in marriage. Only be a brave warrior for me and fight the battles of the LORD." For Saul thought, "There's no need for me to raise my hand against him. Let it be the hand of the Philistines!" | 17Then Saul said to David, “Here is my older daughter Merab. I will give her to you in marriage. Only be valiant for me and fight the LORD’s battles.” But Saul was thinking, “I need not raise my hand against him; let the hand of the Philistines be against him.” |
| 18David said to Saul, "Who am I? Who are my relatives or the clan of my father in Israel that I should become the king's son-in-law?" | 18And David said to Saul, “Who am I, and what is my family or my father’s clan in Israel, that I should become the son-in-law of the king?” |
| 19When the time came for Merab, Saul's daughter, to be given to David, she instead was given in marriage to Adriel, who was from Meholah. | 19So when it was time to give Saul’s daughter Merab to David, she was given in marriage to Adriel of Meholah. |
| 20Now Michal, Saul's daughter, loved David. When they told Saul about this, it pleased him. | 20Now Saul’s daughter Michal loved David, and when this was reported to Saul, it pleased him. |
| 21Saul said, "I will give her to him so that she may become a snare to him and the hand of the Philistines may be against him." So Saul said to David, "Today is the second time for you to become my son-in-law." | 21“I will give her to David,” Saul thought, “so that she may be a snare to him, and the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” So Saul said to David, “For a second time now you can be my son-in-law.” |
| 22Then Saul instructed his servants, "Tell David secretly, 'The king is pleased with you, and all his servants like you. So now become the king's son-in-law." | 22Then Saul ordered his servants, “Speak to David privately and tell him, ‘Behold, the king is pleased with you, and all his servants love you. Now therefore, become his son-in-law.’ ” |
| 23So Saul's servants spoke these words privately to David. David replied, "Is becoming the king's son-in-law something insignificant to you? I'm just a poor and lightly-esteemed man!" | 23But when Saul’s servants relayed these words to David, he replied, “Does it seem trivial in your sight to be the son-in-law of the king? I am a poor man and lightly esteemed.” |
| 24When Saul's servants reported what David had said, | 24And the servants told Saul what David had said. |
| 25Saul replied, "Here is what you should say to David: 'There is nothing that the king wants as a price for the bride except a hundred Philistine foreskins, so that he can be avenged of his enemies.'" (Now Saul was thinking that he could kill David by the hand of the Philistines.) | 25Saul replied, “Say to David, ‘The king desires no other dowry but a hundred Philistine foreskins as revenge on his enemies.’ ” But Saul intended to cause David’s death at the hands of the Philistines. |
| 26So his servants told David these things and David agreed to become the king's son-in-law. Now the specified time had not yet expired | 26When the servants reported these terms to David, he was pleased to become the king’s son-in-law. Before the wedding day arrived, |
| 27when David, along with his men, went out and struck down two hundred Philistine men. David brought their foreskins and presented all of them to the king so he could become the king's son-in-law. Saul then gave him his daughter Michal in marriage. | 27David and his men went out and killed two hundred Philistines. He brought their foreskins and presented them as payment in full to become the king’s son-in-law. Then Saul gave his daughter Michal to David in marriage. |
| 28When Saul realized that the LORD was with David and that his daughter Michal loved David, | 28When Saul realized that the LORD was with David and that his daughter Michal loved David, |
| 29Saul became even more afraid of him. Saul continued to be at odds with David from then on. | 29he grew even more afraid of David. So from then on Saul was David’s enemy. |
| 30Then the leaders of the Philistines would march out, and as often as they did so, David achieved more success than all of Saul's servants. His name was held in high esteem. | 30Every time the Philistine commanders came out for battle, David was more successful than all of Saul’s officers, so that his name was highly esteemed. |
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