1 Samuel 18 Parallel Bible Translations

1 Samuel 18 ▼
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1 As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. By the time David finished speaking with Saul, Jonathan’s life became bound up with David’s life; he loved him as his very self. After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself.
2 And Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father’s house. Saul retained David on that day and did not allow him to return to his father’s house. From that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return home to his family.
3 Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul. Jonathan and David made a covenant, because Jonathan loved him as his very self. And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.
4 And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt. Jonathan took off the cloak he was wearing and handed it over to David, along with his military dress, even his sword, bow, and belt. Jonathan 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.
5 And David went out and was successful wherever Saul sent him, so that Saul set him over the men of war. And this was good in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul’s servants. David then carried out successfully every mission on which Saul sent him. So Saul put him in charge of his soldiers; this met with the approval of the whole army, even Saul’s officers. Whatever 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.
6 As they were coming home, when David returned from striking down the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with songs of joy, and with musical instruments. At the approach of Saul and David, on David’s return after striking down the Philistine, women came out from all the cities of Israel to meet Saul the king, singing and dancing, with tambourines, joyful songs, and stringed instruments. When 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.
7 And the women sang to one another as they celebrated, “Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands.” The women played and sang: “Saul has slain his thousands, David his tens of thousands.” As they danced, they sang: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.”
8 And Saul was very angry, and this saying displeased him. He said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed thousands, and what more can he have but the kingdom?” Saul was very angry and resentful of the song, for he thought: “They give David tens of thousands, but only thousands to me. All that remains for him is the kingship.” Saul 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?”
9 And Saul eyed David from that day on. From that day on, Saul kept a jealous eye on David. And from that time on Saul kept a close eye on David.
10 The next day a harmful spirit from God rushed upon Saul, and he raved within his house while David was playing the lyre, as he did day by day. Saul had his spear in his hand. The next day an evil spirit from God rushed upon Saul, and he raged in his house. David was in attendance, playing the harp as at other times, while Saul was holding his spear. The 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 hand
11 And Saul hurled the spear, for he thought, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David evaded him twice. Saul poised the spear, thinking, “I will nail David to the wall!” But twice David escaped him. and he hurled it, saying to himself, “I’ll pin David to the wall.” But David eluded him twice.
12 Saul was afraid of David because the LORD was with him but had departed from Saul. Saul then began to fear David because the LORD was with him but had turned away from Saul. Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with David but had departed from Saul.
13 So Saul removed him from his presence and made him a commander of a thousand. And he went out and came in before the people. Saul sent him out of his presence and appointed him a field officer. So David led the people on their military expeditions So he sent David away from him and gave him command over a thousand men, and David led the troops in their campaigns.
14 And David had success in all his undertakings, for the LORD was with him. and prospered in all his ways, for the LORD was with him. In everything he did he had great success, because the LORD was with him.
15 And when Saul saw that he had great success, he stood in fearful awe of him. Seeing how he prospered, Saul feared David. When Saul saw how successful he was, he was afraid of him.
16 But all Israel and Judah loved David, for he went out and came in before them. But all Israel and Judah loved David, since he led them on their expeditions. But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he led them in their campaigns.
17 Then Saul said to David, “Here is my elder daughter Merab. I will give her to you for a wife. Only be valiant for me and fight the LORD’s battles.” For Saul thought, “Let not my hand be against him, but let the hand of the Philistines be against him.” Saul said to David, “Look, I will give you my older daughter, Merob, in marriage if you become my warrior and fight the battles of the LORD.” Saul thought, “I will not lay a hand on him. Let the hand of the Philistines strike him.” Saul 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!”
18 And David said to Saul, “Who am I, and who are my relatives, my father’s clan in Israel, that I should be son-in-law to the king?” But David answered Saul: “Who am I? And who are my kindred or my father’s clan in Israel that I should become the king’s son-in-law?” But 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?”
19 But at the time when Merab, Saul’s daughter, should have been given to David, she was given to Adriel the Meholathite for a wife. But when the time came for Saul’s daughter Merob to be given to David, she was given as wife to Adriel the Meholathite instead. So when the time came for Merab, Saul’s daughter, to be given to David, she was given in marriage to Adriel of Meholah.
20 Now Saul’s daughter Michal loved David. And they told Saul, and the thing pleased him. Now Saul’s daughter Michal loved David. When this was reported to Saul, he was pleased. Now Saul’s daughter Michal was in love with David, and when they told Saul about it, he was pleased.
21 Saul thought, “Let me give her to him, that she may be a snare for him and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” Therefore Saul said to David a second time, “You shall now be my son-in-law.” He thought, “I will offer her to him as a trap, so that the hand of the Philistines may strike him.” So for the second time Saul said to David, “You shall become my son-in-law today.” “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.”
22 And Saul commanded his servants, “Speak to David in private and say, ‘Behold, the king has delight in you, and all his servants love you. Now then become the king’s son-in-law.’” Saul then ordered his servants, “Speak to David privately and say: The king favors you, and all his officers love you. You should become son-in-law to the king.” Then 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.’”
23 And Saul’s servants spoke those words in the ears of David. And David said, “Does it seem to you a little thing to become the king’s son-in-law, since I am a poor man and have no reputation?” But when Saul’s servants mentioned this to David, he said: “Is becoming the king’s son-in-law a trivial matter in your eyes? I am poor and insignificant.” They 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.”
24 And the servants of Saul told him, “Thus and so did David speak.” When his servants reported David’s answer to him, When Saul’s servants told him what David had said,
25 Then Saul said, “Thus shall you say to David, ‘The king desires no bride-price except a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, that he may be avenged of the king’s enemies.’” Now Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines. Saul commanded them, “Say this to David: The king desires no other price for the bride than the foreskins of one hundred Philistines, that he may thus take vengeance on his enemies.” Saul intended to have David fall into the hands of the Philistines. Saul 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.
26 And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king’s son-in-law. Before the time had expired, When the servants reported this offer to David, he was pleased with the prospect of becoming the king’s son-in-law. Before the year was up, When the attendants told David these things, he was pleased to become the king’s son-in-law. So before the allotted time elapsed,
27 David arose and went, along with his men, and killed two hundred of the Philistines. And David brought their foreskins, which were given in full number to the king, that he might become the king’s son-in-law. And Saul gave him his daughter Michal for a wife. David arose and went with his men and slew two hundred Philistines. He brought back their foreskins and counted them out before the king that he might become the king’s son-in-law. So Saul gave him his daughter Michal as wife. David 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.
28 But when Saul saw and knew that the LORD was with David, and that Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved him, Then Saul realized that the LORD was with David and that his own daughter Michal loved David. When Saul realized that the LORD was with David and that his daughter Michal loved David,
29 Saul was even more afraid of David. So Saul was David’s enemy continually. So Saul feared David all the more and was his enemy ever after. Saul became still more afraid of him, and he remained his enemy the rest of his days.
30 Then the commanders of the Philistines came out to battle, and as often as they came out David had more success than all the servants of Saul, so that his name was highly esteemed. The Philistine chiefs continued to make forays, but each time they took the field, David was more successful against them than any of Saul’s other officers, and his name was held in great esteem. The 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.
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