NET Bible

New American Standard Bible 1995

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.

1Now it came about when he had finished speaking to Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as himself.

2Saul retained David on that day and did not allow him to return to his father's house.

2Saul took him that day 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.

4Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, with his armor, including his sword and 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 went out wherever Saul sent him, and prospered; and Saul set him over the men of war. And it was pleasing in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul's servants.

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.

6It happened as they were coming, when David returned from killing the Philistine, that the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with joy and with musical instruments.

7The women who were playing the music sang, "Saul has struck down his thousands, but David his tens of thousands!"

7The women sang as they played, and said, "Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten 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?"

8Then Saul became very angry, for this saying displeased him; and he said, "They have ascribed to David ten thousands, but to me they have ascribed thousands. Now what more can he have but the kingdom?"

9So Saul was keeping an eye on David from that day onward.

9Saul looked at David with suspicion from that day on.

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,

10Now it came about on the next day that an evil spirit from God came mightily upon Saul, and he raved in the midst of the house, while David was playing the harp with his hand, as usual; and a spear was in Saul's hand.

11and Saul threw the spear, thinking, "I'll nail David to the wall!" But David escaped from him on two different occasions.

11Saul hurled the spear for he thought, "I will pin David to the wall." But David escaped from his presence twice.

12So Saul feared David, because the LORD was with him but had departed from Saul.

12Now Saul was afraid of David, for the LORD was with him 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 removed him from his presence and appointed him as his commander of a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people.

14Now David achieved success in all he did, for the LORD was with him.

14David was prospering in all his ways for the LORD was with him.

15When Saul saw how very successful he was, he was afraid of him.

15When Saul saw that he was prospering greatly, he dreaded 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, and he went out and came in before them.

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 as a wife, only be a valiant man for me and fight the LORD'S battles." For Saul thought, "My hand shall not be against him, but 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?"

18But David said to Saul, "Who am I, and what is my life or my father's family in Israel, that I should be the king's son-in-law?"

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 it came about at the time when Merab, Saul's daughter, should have been given to David, that she was given to Adriel the Meholathite for a wife.

20Now Michal, Saul's daughter, loved David. When they told Saul about this, it pleased him.

20Now Michal, Saul's daughter, loved David. When they told Saul, the thing was agreeable to 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."

21Saul thought, "I will give her to him that she may become a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him." Therefore Saul said to David, "For a second time you may be my son-in-law today."

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 commanded his servants, "Speak to David secretly, saying, 'Behold, the king delights in you, and all his servants love you; now therefore, become the king's 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!"

23So Saul's servants spoke these words to David. But David said, "Is it trivial in your sight to become the king's son-in-law, since I am a poor man and lightly esteemed?"

24When Saul's servants reported what David had said,

24The servants of Saul reported to him according to these words which David spoke.

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 then said, "Thus you shall say to David, 'The king does not desire any dowry except a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to take vengeance on the king's enemies.'" Now Saul planned to make David fall by the hand 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 his servants told David these words, it pleased David to become the king's son-in-law. Before the days had expired

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 rose up and went, he and his men, and struck down two hundred men among the Philistines. Then David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full number to the king, that he might become the king's son-in-law. So Saul gave him Michal his daughter for a wife.

28When Saul realized that the LORD was with David and that his daughter Michal loved David,

28When Saul saw and knew that the LORD was with David, and that Michal, Saul's daughter, loved him,

29Saul became even more afraid of him. Saul continued to be at odds with David from then on.

29then Saul was even more afraid of David. Thus Saul was David's enemy continually.

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.

30Then the commanders of the Philistines went out to battle, and it happened as often as they went out, that David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul. So his name was highly esteemed.

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