1 Samuel 18
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New International VersionNew American Standard Bible 1995
1After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself.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.
2From that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return home to his family.2Saul took him that day and did not let him return to his father's house.
3And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.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 his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and 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.
5Whatever mission Saul sent him on, David was so successful that Saul gave him a high rank in the army. This pleased all the troops, and Saul's officers as well.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 were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs and with timbrels and lyres.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.
7As they danced, they sang: "Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands."7The women sang as they played, and said, "Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands."
8Saul was very angry; this refrain displeased him greatly. "They have credited David with tens of thousands," he thought, "but me with only thousands. What more can he get but 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?"
9And from that time on Saul kept a close eye on David.9Saul looked at David with suspicion from that day on.
10The next day an evil spirit from God came forcefully on Saul. He was prophesying in his house, while David was playing the lyre, as he usually did. Saul had a spear in his hand10Now 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 he hurled it, saying to himself, "I'll pin David to the wall." But David eluded him twice.11Saul hurled the spear for he thought, "I will pin David to the wall." But David escaped from his presence twice.
12Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with David but had departed from Saul.12Now Saul was afraid of David, for the LORD was with him but had departed from Saul.
13So he sent David away from him and gave him command over a thousand men, and David led the troops in their campaigns.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.
14In everything he did he had great success, because the LORD was with him.14David was prospering in all his ways for the LORD was with him.
15When Saul saw how 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, because he led them in their campaigns.16But all Israel and Judah loved David, and he went out and came in before them.
17Saul said to David, "Here is my older daughter Merab. I will give her to you in marriage; only serve me bravely and fight the battles of the LORD." For Saul said to himself, "I will not raise a hand against him. Let the Philistines do that!"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."
18But David said to Saul, "Who am I, and what is my family or my clan 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?"
19So when the time came for Merab, Saul's daughter, to be given to David, she was given in marriage to Adriel of 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 Saul's daughter Michal was in love with David, and when they told Saul about it, he was pleased.20Now Michal, Saul's daughter, loved David. When they told Saul, the thing was agreeable to him.
21"I will give her to him," he thought, "so that she may be a snare to him and so that the hand of the Philistines may be against him." So Saul said to David, "Now you have a second opportunity 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 ordered his attendants: "Speak to David privately and say, 'Look, the king likes you, and his attendants all love you; now become his 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.'"
23They repeated these words to David. But David said, "Do you think it is a small matter to become the king's son-in-law? I'm only a poor man and little known."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 told him what David had said,24The servants of Saul reported to him according to these words which David spoke.
25Saul replied, "Say to David, 'The king wants no other price for the bride than a hundred Philistine foreskins, to take revenge on his enemies.'" Saul's plan was to have David fall by the hands 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.
26When the attendants told David these things, he was pleased to become the king's son-in-law. So before the allotted time elapsed,26When his servants told David these words, it pleased David to become the king's son-in-law. Before the days had expired
27David took his men with him and went out and killed two hundred Philistines and brought back their foreskins. They counted out the full number to the king so that David might become the king's son-in-law. Then Saul 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 still more afraid of him, and he remained his enemy the rest of his days.29then Saul was even more afraid of David. Thus Saul was David's enemy continually.
30The Philistine commanders continued to go out to battle, and as often as they did, David met with more success than the rest of Saul's officers, and his name became well known.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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1 Samuel 17
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