1 Samuel 20 Parallel Bible

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	ESV English Standard Version	NABRE New American Bible Revised	NIV New International Version
1	Then David fled from Naioth in Ramah and came and said before Jonathan, “What have I done? What is my guilt? And what is my sin before your father, that he seeks my life?”	David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and went to Jonathan. “What have I done?” he asked him. “What crime or what offense does your father hold against me that he seeks my life?”	Then David fled from Naioth at Ramah and went to Jonathan and asked, “What have I done? What is my crime? How have I wronged your father, that he is trying to kill me?”
2	And he said to him, “Far from it! You shall not die. Behold, my father does nothing either great or small without disclosing it to me. And why should my father hide this from me? It is not so.”	Jonathan answered him: “Heaven forbid that you should die! My father does nothing, great or small, without telling me. Why, then, should my father conceal this from me? It cannot be true!”	“Never!” Jonathan replied. “You are not going to die! Look, my father doesn’t do anything, great or small, without letting me know. Why would he hide this from me? It isn’t so!”
3	But David vowed again, saying, “Your father knows well that I have found favor in your eyes, and he thinks, ‘Do not let Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved.’ But truly, as the LORD lives and as your soul lives, there is but a step between me and death.”	But David replied: “Your father is well aware that I am favored with your friendship, so he has decided, ‘Jonathan must not know about this or he will be grieved.’ Nevertheless, as the LORD lives and as you live, there is only a step between me and death.”	But David took an oath and said, “Your father knows very well that I have found favor in your eyes, and he has said to himself, ‘Jonathan must not know this or he will be grieved.’ Yet as surely as the LORD lives and as you live, there is only a step between me and death.”
4	Then Jonathan said to David, “Whatever you say, I will do for you.”	Jonathan then said to David, “I will do whatever you say.”	Jonathan said to David, “Whatever you want me to do, I’ll do for you.”
5	David said to Jonathan, “Behold, tomorrow is the new moon, and I should not fail to sit at table with the king. But let me go, that I may hide myself in the field till the third day at evening.	David answered: “Tomorrow is the new moon, when I should in fact dine with the king. Let me go and hide in the open country until evening.	So David said, “Look, tomorrow is the New Moon feast, and I am supposed to dine with the king; but let me go and hide in the field until the evening of the day after tomorrow.
6	If your father misses me at all, then say, ‘David earnestly asked leave of me to run to Bethlehem his city, for there is a yearly sacrifice there for all the clan.’	If it turns out that your father misses me, say, ‘David urged me to let him go on short notice to his city Bethlehem, because his whole clan is holding its seasonal sacrifice there.’	If your father misses me at all, tell him, ‘David earnestly asked my permission to hurry to Bethlehem, his hometown, because an annual sacrifice is being made there for his whole clan.’
7	If he says, ‘Good!’ it will be well with your servant, but if he is angry, then know that harm is determined by him.	If he says, ‘Very well,’ your servant is safe. But if he becomes quite angry, you can be sure he has planned some harm.	If he says, ‘Very well,’ then your servant is safe. But if he loses his temper, you can be sure that he is determined to harm me.
8	Therefore deal kindly with your servant, for you have brought your servant into a covenant of the LORD with you. But if there is guilt in me, kill me yourself, for why should you bring me to your father?”	Do this kindness for your servant because of the LORD’s covenant into which you brought us: if I am guilty, kill me yourself! Why should you give me up to your father?”	As for you, show kindness to your servant, for you have brought him into a covenant with you before the LORD. If I am guilty, then kill me yourself! Why hand me over to your father?”
9	And Jonathan said, “Far be it from you! If I knew that it was determined by my father that harm should come to you, would I not tell you?”	But Jonathan answered: “Not I! If ever I find out that my father is determined to harm you, I will certainly let you know.”	“Never!” Jonathan said. “If I had the least inkling that my father was determined to harm you, wouldn’t I tell you?”
10	Then David said to Jonathan, “Who will tell me if your father answers you roughly?”	David then asked Jonathan, “Who will tell me if your father gives you a harsh answer?”	David asked, “Who will tell me if your father answers you harshly?”
11	And Jonathan said to David, “Come, let us go out into the field.” So they both went out into the field.	Jonathan replied to David, “Come, let us go out into the field.” When they were out in the open country together,	“Come,” Jonathan said, “let’s go out into the field.” So they went there together.
12	And Jonathan said to David, “The LORD, the God of Israel, be witness! When I have sounded out my father, about this time tomorrow, or the third day, behold, if he is well disposed toward David, shall I not then send and disclose it to you?	Jonathan said to David: “As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, I will sound out my father about this time tomorrow. Whether he is well disposed toward David or not, I will inform you.	Then Jonathan said to David, “I swear by the LORD, the God of Israel, that I will surely sound out my father by this time the day after tomorrow! If he is favorably disposed toward you, will I not send you word and let you know?
13	But should it please my father to do you harm, the LORD do so to Jonathan and more also if I do not disclose it to you and send you away, that you may go in safety. May the LORD be with you, as he has been with my father.	Should it please my father to bring any harm upon you, may the LORD do thus to Jonathan and more, if I do not inform you of it and send you on your way in peace. May the LORD be with you even as he was with my father.	But if my father intends to harm you, may the LORD deal with Jonathan, be it ever so severely, if I do not let you know and send you away in peace. May the LORD be with you as he has been with my father.
14	If I am still alive, show me the steadfast love of the LORD, that I may not die;	Only this: if I am still alive, may you show me the kindness of the LORD. But if I die,	But show me unfailing kindness like the LORD’s kindness as long as I live, so that I may not be killed,
15	and do not cut off your steadfast love from my house forever, when the LORD cuts off every one of the enemies of David from the face of the earth.”	never cut off your kindness from my house. And when the LORD cuts off all the enemies of David from the face of the land,	and do not ever cut off your kindness from my family—not even when the LORD has cut off every one of David’s enemies from the face of the earth.”
16	And Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, “May the LORD take vengeance on David’s enemies.”	the name of Jonathan must never be cut off from the family of David, or the LORD will make you answer for it.”	So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, “May the LORD call David’s enemies to account.”
17	And Jonathan made David swear again by his love for him, for he loved him as he loved his own soul.	And in his love for David, Jonathan renewed his oath to him, because he loved him as he loved himself.	And Jonathan had David reaffirm his oath out of love for him, because he loved him as he loved himself.
18	Then Jonathan said to him, “Tomorrow is the new moon, and you will be missed, because your seat will be empty.	Jonathan then said to him: “Tomorrow is the new moon; you will be missed, since your place will be vacant.	Then Jonathan said to David, “Tomorrow is the New Moon feast. You will be missed, because your seat will be empty.
19	On the third day go down quickly to the place where you hid yourself when the matter was in hand, and remain beside the stone heap.	On the third day you will be missed all the more. Go to the spot where you hid on the other occasion and wait near the mound there.	The day after tomorrow, toward evening, go to the place where you hid when this trouble began, and wait by the stone Ezel.
20	And I will shoot three arrows to the side of it, as though I shot at a mark.	On the third day of the month I will shoot arrows to the side of it, as though aiming at a target.	I will shoot three arrows to the side of it, as though I were shooting at a target.
21	And behold, I will send the boy, saying, ‘Go, find the arrows.’ If I say to the boy, ‘Look, the arrows are on this side of you, take them,’ then you are to come, for, as the LORD lives, it is safe for you and there is no danger.	I will then send my attendant to recover the arrows. If in fact I say to him, ‘Look, the arrow is this side of you; pick it up,’ come, for you are safe. As the LORD lives, there will be nothing to fear.	Then I will send a boy and say, ‘Go, find the arrows.’ If I say to him, ‘Look, the arrows are on this side of you; bring them here,’ then come, because, as surely as the LORD lives, you are safe; there is no danger.
22	But if I say to the youth, ‘Look, the arrows are beyond you,’ then go, for the LORD has sent you away.	But if I say to the boy, ‘Look, the arrow is beyond you,’ go, for the LORD sends you away.	But if I say to the boy, ‘Look, the arrows are beyond you,’ then you must go, because the LORD has sent you away.
23	And as for the matter of which you and I have spoken, behold, the LORD is between you and me forever.”	However, in the matter which you and I have discussed, the LORD shall be between you and me forever.”	And about the matter you and I discussed—remember, the LORD is witness between you and me forever.”
24	So David hid himself in the field. And when the new moon came, the king sat down to eat food.	So David hid in the open country. On the day of the new moon, when the king sat down at the feast to dine,	So David hid in the field, and when the New Moon feast came, the king sat down to eat.
25	The king sat on his seat, as at other times, on the seat by the wall. Jonathan sat opposite, and Abner sat by Saul’s side, but David’s place was empty.	he took his usual place against the wall. Jonathan sat facing him, while Abner sat at the king’s side. David’s place was vacant.	He sat in his customary place by the wall, opposite Jonathan, and Abner sat next to Saul, but David’s place was empty.
26	Yet Saul did not say anything that day, for he thought, “Something has happened to him. He is not clean; surely he is not clean.”	Saul, however, said nothing that day, for he thought, “He must have become unclean by accident.”	Saul said nothing that day, for he thought, “Something must have happened to David to make him ceremonially unclean—surely he is unclean.”
27	But on the second day, the day after the new moon, David’s place was empty. And Saul said to Jonathan his son, “Why has not the son of Jesse come to the meal, either yesterday or today?”	On the next day, the second day of the month, David’s place was still vacant. So Saul asked his son Jonathan, “Why has the son of Jesse not come to table yesterday or today?”	But the next day, the second day of the month, David’s place was empty again. Then Saul said to his son Jonathan, “Why hasn’t the son of Jesse come to the meal, either yesterday or today?”
28	Jonathan answered Saul, “David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Bethlehem.	Jonathan explained to Saul: “David pleaded with me to let him go to Bethlehem.	Jonathan answered, “David earnestly asked me for permission to go to Bethlehem.
29	He said, ‘Let me go, for our clan holds a sacrifice in the city, and my brother has commanded me to be there. So now, if I have found favor in your eyes, let me get away and see my brothers.’ For this reason he has not come to the king’s table.”	‘Please let me go,’ he begged, ‘for we are having a clan sacrifice in our city, and my brothers insist on my presence. Now then, if you think well of me, give me leave to visit my brothers.’ That is why he has not come to the king’s table.”	He said, ‘Let me go, because our family is observing a sacrifice in the town and my brother has ordered me to be there. If I have found favor in your eyes, let me get away to see my brothers.’ That is why he has not come to the king’s table.”
30	Then Saul’s anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said to him, “You son of a perverse, rebellious woman, do I not know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to your own shame, and to the shame of your mother’s nakedness?	But Saul grew angry with Jonathan and said to him: “Son of a rebellious woman, do I not know that, to your own disgrace and to the disgrace of your mother’s nakedness, you are the companion of Jesse’s son?	Saul’s anger flared up at Jonathan and he said to him, “You son of a perverse and rebellious woman! Don’t I know that you have sided with the son of Jesse to your own shame and to the shame of the mother who bore you?
31	For as long as the son of Jesse lives on the earth, neither you nor your kingdom shall be established. Therefore send and bring him to me, for he shall surely die.”	For as long as the son of Jesse lives upon the earth, you cannot make good your claim to the kingship! Now send for him, and bring him to me, for he must die.”	As long as the son of Jesse lives on this earth, neither you nor your kingdom will be established. Now send someone to bring him to me, for he must die!”
32	Then Jonathan answered Saul his father, “Why should he be put to death? What has he done?”	But Jonathan argued with his father Saul: “Why should he die? What has he done?”	“Why should he be put to death? What has he done?” Jonathan asked his father.
33	But Saul hurled his spear at him to strike him. So Jonathan knew that his father was determined to put David to death.	At this Saul brandished his spear to strike him, and thus Jonathan learned that his father was determined to kill David.	But Saul hurled his spear at him to kill him. Then Jonathan knew that his father intended to kill David.
34	And Jonathan rose from the table in fierce anger and ate no food the second day of the month, for he was grieved for David, because his father had disgraced him.	Jonathan sprang up from the table in a rage and ate nothing that second day of the month, because he was grieved on David’s account, and because his father had humiliated him.	Jonathan got up from the table in fierce anger; on that second day of the feast he did not eat, because he was grieved at his father’s shameful treatment of David.
35	In the morning Jonathan went out into the field to the appointment with David, and with him a little boy.	The next morning Jonathan, accompanied by a young boy, went out into the field for his appointment with David.	In the morning Jonathan went out to the field for his meeting with David. He had a small boy with him,
36	And he said to his boy, “Run and find the arrows that I shoot.” As the boy ran, he shot an arrow beyond him.	There he said to the boy, “Run and find the arrows.” And as the boy ran, he shot an arrow past him.	and he said to the boy, “Run and find the arrows I shoot.” As the boy ran, he shot an arrow beyond him.
37	And when the boy came to the place of the arrow that Jonathan had shot, Jonathan called after the boy and said, “Is not the arrow beyond you?”	When the boy made for the spot where Jonathan had shot the arrow, Jonathan called after him, “The arrow is farther on!”	When the boy came to the place where Jonathan’s arrow had fallen, Jonathan called out after him, “Isn’t the arrow beyond you?”
38	And Jonathan called after the boy, “Hurry! Be quick! Do not stay!” So Jonathan’s boy gathered up the arrows and came to his master.	Again he called to the boy, “Hurry, be quick, don’t delay!” Jonathan’s boy picked up the arrow and brought it to his master.	Then he shouted, “Hurry! Go quickly! Don’t stop!” The boy picked up the arrow and returned to his master.
39	But the boy knew nothing. Only Jonathan and David knew the matter.	The boy suspected nothing; only Jonathan and David knew what was meant.	(The boy knew nothing about all this; only Jonathan and David knew.)
40	And Jonathan gave his weapons to his boy and said to him, “Go and carry them to the city.”	Then Jonathan gave his weapons to his boy and said to him, “Go, take them to the city.”	Then Jonathan gave his weapons to the boy and said, “Go, carry them back to town.”
41	And as soon as the boy had gone, David rose from beside the stone heap and fell on his face to the ground and bowed three times. And they kissed one another and wept with one another, David weeping the most.	When the boy had gone, David rose from beside the mound and fell on his face to the ground three times in homage. They kissed each other and wept aloud together.	After the boy had gone, David got up from the south side of the stone and bowed down before Jonathan three times, with his face to the ground. Then they kissed each other and wept together—but David wept the most.
42	Then Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, because we have sworn both of us in the name of the LORD, saying, ‘The LORD shall be between me and you, and between my offspring and your offspring, forever.’” And he rose and departed, and Jonathan went into the city.	At length Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, in keeping with what the two of us have sworn by the name of the LORD: ‘The LORD shall be between you and me, and between your offspring and mine forever.’” Then David departed on his way, while Jonathan went back into the city.	Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, for we have sworn friendship with each other in the name of the LORD, saying, ‘The LORD is witness between you and me, and between your descendants and my descendants forever.’” Then David left, and Jonathan went back to the town.
	Read English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles.	Read New American Bible Revised Copyright © 2010 USCCB.	Read New International Version Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.

1 Samuel 20 Parallel Bible Translations