1 Samuel 20:1-13 ▼

1 Then David fled from the dwellings at Ramah, and came before Jonathan and said, |What have I done? What is my iniquity? What is my sin before your father, that he seeks my life?|

2 He said to him, |Far from it; you shall not die. Look, my father does nothing either great or small, but that he discloses it to me; and why should my father hide this thing from me? It is not so.|

3 And David answered and said, |Your father knows well that I have found favor in your eyes; and he says, '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.|

4 Then Jonathan said to David, |Whatever your soul desires, I will do for you.|

5 So David said to Jonathan, |Look, tomorrow is the new moon, and I should not fail to sit with the king to eat. Instead, let me go so that I may hide myself in the field until evening.

6 If your father missed me at all, then say, 'David urgently requested of me that he might run to Bethlehem his city, for it is the yearly sacrifice there for all the family.'

7 If he says, 'It is well;' your servant shall have peace: but if he be angry, then know that evil is determined by him.

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 iniquity in me, kill me yourself; for why should you bring me to your father?|

9 Jonathan said, |Far be it from you; for if I should at all know that evil were determined by my father to come on you, then wouldn't I tell you that?|

10 Then David said to Jonathan, |Who will tell me if your father answers you harshly?|

11 Jonathan said to David, |Come, and let us go out into the field.| They both went out into the field.

12 Jonathan said to David, |The LORD, the God of Israel, is witness. When I have studied my father, about this time tomorrow, or the third day, look, if there is good toward David, shall I not then send to you, and disclose it to you?

13 But should it please my father to do you harm, God do so to Jonathan and more also if I do not let you know and send you away, that you may go in safety. And may the LORD be with you, as he has been with my father.