18 David finished talking with Saul. After that, Saul's son Jonathan became a very good friend of David. Jonathan loved David as much as he loved his own life. 2 Saul kept David with him from that day. He did not let David go home to his father's house. 3 Jonathan made a special promise to be David's friend, because he loved David as much as he loved his own life. 4 Jonathan took off his coat and he gave it to David. He also gave his armour to David, as well as his sword, his bow and his belt.
5 David did whatever Saul asked him to do. And he always did it well. So Saul made David an officer to lead his army. That made the soldiers happy, and it also pleased Saul's officers.
6 After David had killed the Philistine, Goliath, he and the soldiers returned to their homes. Women came out from all the towns in Israel to meet King Saul. The women were happy as they sang songs and they danced. They made music with tambourines and lyres. 7 They sang this song while they danced:
‘Saul has killed thousands of his enemies.
And David has killed tens of thousands of his enemies.’
8 Saul did not like this song. He became very angry. He thought, ‘The women say that David has killed tens of thousands of men. But they say that I have only killed thousands of men. They will soon want David to be their king.’
9 After that, Saul was jealous of David and he watched David carefully.
10 The next day God caused an evil spirit to come and control Saul. Saul started to prophesy in his house. David was making music on his harp as he did every day. Saul had a spear in his hand. 11 He threw the spear at David. He thought, ‘I will hit David so that it fixes him to the wall.’ He tried to do this twice, but David moved out of the way.
12 The Lord was with David. But the Lord had left Saul. So Saul was afraid of David. 13 So Saul sent David away from him. He made David the leader of 1,000 soldiers. David led the soldiers into battles, but he always came back again. [ a ] 14 David won all his fights because the Lord was with him. 15 Saul saw that David was a great soldier. So he became more afraid of David. 16 All the people in Israel and Judah loved David because he led the army in their battles.
17 Saul said to David, ‘Here is my oldest daughter Merab. I will let you marry her. But you must be a brave soldier and you must fight battles for the Lord .’ Saul thought to himself, ‘I will not have to kill David myself. The Philistines will do that.’
18 But David said to Saul, ‘I am not an important person. My family and my father's clan are not important either. I do not deserve to marry the king's daughter.’
19 When the time came for Merab to marry David, Saul told her to marry a different man. He gave her to Adriel from Meholah to be his wife.
20 Saul had another daughter, Michal, and she loved David. When somebody told Saul about this, he was very happy. 21 He thought, ‘I will let David marry her. I will use her as a trap that will catch him. I will give the Philistines a chance to kill him.’ So Saul said to David, ‘Now you have another chance to marry one of my daughters.’
22 Saul told his servants to say secretly to David, ‘The king is pleased with you. His servants all like you. You should now marry the king's daughter.’
23 Saul's servants said this to David. But David replied, ‘It is a great honour for someone to marry the king's daughter. But I am poor. I am not important enough.’ [ b ]
24 Saul's servants told him what David had said. 25 Saul said, ‘Tell David this: The king does not want David to pay money to marry the king's daughter. He can pay for her with the foreskins of 100 dead Philistines. Saul wants David to punish his enemies.’
In this way, Saul thought that he would use the Philistines to kill David.
26 Saul's servants told David what Saul wanted. It made David happy to think that he could marry the king's daughter. Before the time for the wedding arrived, 27 David and his men left their homes. They went and they killed 200 Philistines. David brought all their foreskins to Saul. David gave them to Saul so that he could marry the king's daughter. So Saul agreed to let David marry his daughter Michal.
28 Saul realized that the Lord was with David. He knew that his daughter Michal loved David. 29 So Saul became even more afraid of David. Saul was David's enemy for the rest of his life.
30 The Philistine army continued to march out and attack the Israelites. Every time that they fought, David won more fights than any of Saul's other officers. So David became very famous.
18 Saul decided to take David with him. He would not let David go back home to his father. After David finished talking with Saul, Jonathan developed a strong friendship with David. [ a ] 3 Jonathan loved David as much as himself, so they made a special agreement. 4 Jonathan took off the coat he was wearing and gave it to David. In fact, Jonathan gave David his whole uniform—including his sword, his bow, and even his belt.
5 David went to fight wherever Saul sent him. He was very successful, so Saul put him in charge of the soldiers. This pleased everyone, even Saul’s officers. 6 David would go out to fight against the Philistines. On the way home, after the battles, women in every town in Israel would come out to meet him. They sang and danced for joy as they played their tambourines and lyres. They did this right in front of Saul! 7 The women sang,
“Saul has killed his thousands,
but David has killed tens of thousands.”
8 This song upset Saul and he became very angry. Saul thought, “The women give David credit for killing tens of thousands of the enemy, and they give me credit for only thousands. A little more of this and they will give him the kingdom itself! [ b ] ” 9 So from that time on, Saul watched David very closely.
10 The next day, an evil spirit from God took control of Saul and he went wild [ c ] in his house. David played the harp to calm him as he usually did, 11 but Saul had a spear in his hand. He thought, “I’ll pin David to the wall.” Saul threw the spear twice, but David jumped out of the way both times.
12 The Lord had left Saul and was now with David, so Saul was afraid of David. 13 Saul sent David away and made him a commander over 1000 soldiers. This put David out among the men even more as they went into battle and returned. 14 The Lord was with David, so he was successful in everything. 15 Saul saw how successful David was and became even more afraid of him. 16 But all the people in Israel and Judah loved David because he was out among them and led them into battle.
17 One day Saul said to David, “Here is my oldest daughter, Merab. I will let you marry her. Then you will be like a son to me and you will be a real soldier. [ d ] Then you will go and fight the Lord ’s battles.” Saul was really thinking, “Now I won’t have to kill David. I will let the Philistines kill him for me.”
18 But David said, “I am not an important man from an important family. I can’t marry the king’s daughter.”
19 So when the time came for David to marry Saul’s daughter, Saul let her marry Adriel from Meholah.
20 People told Saul that his daughter Michal loved David. This made Saul happy. 21 He thought, “I will use Michal to trap David. I will let Michal marry David, and then I will let the Philistines kill him.” So Saul said to David a second time, “You can marry my daughter today.”
22 Saul commanded his officers to speak to David in private. He told them to say, “Look, the king likes you. His officers like you. You should marry his daughter.”
23 Saul’s officers said these things to David, but David answered, “Do you think it is easy to become the king’s son-in-law? I am just a poor, ordinary man.”
24 Saul’s officers told Saul what David said. 25 Saul told them, “Say this to David, ‘David, the king doesn’t want you to pay money for his daughter. [ e ] He wants to get even with his enemy, so the price for marrying his daughter is 100 Philistine foreskins.’” That was Saul’s secret plan. He thought the Philistines would kill David.
26 Saul’s officers told this to David. David was happy that he had a chance to become the king’s son-in-law, so immediately 27 he and his men went out to fight the Philistines. They killed 200 [ f ] Philistines. David took these Philistine foreskins and gave them to Saul. He did this because he wanted to become the king’s son-in-law.
Saul let David marry his daughter Michal. 28 He saw that the Lord was with David and he also saw that his daughter, Michal, loved David. 29 So Saul became even more afraid of David and was against him all that time.
30 The Philistine commanders continued to go out to fight the Israelites, but David defeated them every time. He became famous as Saul’s best officer.
18 And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.
2 And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father's house.
3 Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.
4 And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.
5 And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul's servants.
6 And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick.
7 And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.
8 And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom?
9 And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.
10 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul's hand.
11 And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall with it. And David avoided out of his presence twice.
12 And Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with him, and was departed from Saul.
13 Therefore Saul removed him from him, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people.
14 And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the Lord was with him.
15 Wherefore when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he was afraid of him.
16 But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them.
17 And Saul said to David, Behold my elder daughter Merab, her will I give thee to wife: only be thou valiant for me, and fight the Lord 's battles. For Saul said, Let not mine hand be upon him, but let the hand of the Philistines be upon him.
18 And David said unto Saul, Who am I? and what is my life, or my father's family in Israel, that I should be son in law to the king?
19 But it came to pass at the time when Merab Saul's daughter should have been given to David, that she was given unto Adriel the Meholathite to wife.
20 And Michal Saul's daughter loved David: and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him.
21 And Saul said, I will give him her, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. Wherefore Saul said to David, Thou shalt this day be my son in law in the one of the twain.
22 And Saul commanded his servants, saying, Commune with David secretly, and say, Behold, the king hath delight in thee, and all his servants love thee: now therefore be the king's son in law.
23 And Saul's servants spake those words in the ears of David. And David said, Seemeth it to you a light thing to be a king's son in law, seeing that I am a poor man, and lightly esteemed?
24 And the servants of Saul told him, saying, On this manner spake David.
25 And Saul said, Thus shall ye say to David, The king desireth not any dowry, but an hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king's enemies. But Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.
26 And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king's son in law: and the days were not expired.
27 Wherefore David arose and went, he and his men, and slew of the Philistines two hundred men; and David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full tale to the king, that he might be the king's son in law. And Saul gave him Michal his daughter to wife.
28 And Saul saw and knew that the Lord was with David, and that Michal Saul's daughter loved him.
29 And Saul was yet the more afraid of David; and Saul became David's enemy continually.
30 Then the princes of the Philistines went forth: and it came to pass, after they went forth, that David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul; so that his name was much set by.
18 Now it came about, when he had finished speaking to Saul, that [ a ] ( A ) Jonathan committed himself to David, and ( B ) Jonathan loved him as himself. 2 And Saul took him that day and ( C ) did not let him return to his father’s house. 3 Then ( D ) Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. 4 ( E ) Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, with his military gear, including his sword, his bow, and his belt. 5 And David went into battle wherever Saul sent him, and always [ b ] achieved success; so Saul put him in charge of the men of war. And it was pleasing in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul’s servants.
6 Now it happened as they were coming, when David returned from killing the Philistine, that ( F ) the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with joy and with other [ c ] musical instruments. 7 The women ( G ) sang as they [ d ] played, and said,
8 Then Saul became very angry, for this lyric [ e ] displeased him; and he said, “They have given David credit for ten thousands, but to me they have given credit for only thousands! Now what more can he have but the ( J ) kingdom?” 9 And Saul eyed David with suspicion from that day on.
10 Now it came about on the next day that ( K ) an evil spirit from God rushed upon Saul, and ( L ) he raved in the midst of the house while David was playing the harp with his hand, [ f ] ( M ) as usual; and [ g ] ( N ) a spear was in Saul’s hand. 11 Then ( O ) Saul hurled the spear, for he thought, “I will [ h ] pin David to the wall.” But David [ i ] escaped from his presence, twice.
12 Now ( P ) Saul was afraid of David, ( Q ) because the Lord was with him but ( R ) had left Saul. 13 So Saul removed him from [ j ] his presence and appointed him as his commander of a thousand; and ( S ) he went out and came in before the people. 14 David was [ k ] successful in all his ways, for ( T ) the Lord was with him. 15 When Saul saw that he was [ l ] very successful, he was afraid of him. 16 But ( U ) all Israel and Judah loved David, for he would go out to battle and [ m ] return [ n ] before them.
17 Then Saul said to David, “ ( V ) Here is my older daughter Merab; I will give her to you as a wife, only be a valiant man for me and fight ( W ) the Lord ’ s battles.” For Saul thought, “My hand shall not be against him, but ( X ) let the hand of the Philistines be against him.” 18 But David said to Saul, “ ( Y ) Who am I, and who is my family, or my father’s family in Israel, that I should be the king’s son-in-law?” 19 So it came about at the time that Merab, Saul’s daughter, was to be given to David, that she was given instead to ( Z ) Adriel ( AA ) the Meholathite as a wife.
20 Now ( AB ) Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved David. When they informed Saul, the thing was pleasing [ o ] to him. 21 For Saul thought, “I will give her to him so that she may become a trap for him, and ( AC ) that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” Therefore Saul said to David, “ ( AD ) For a second time you may become my son-in-law, today.” 22 Then Saul commanded his servants, “Speak to David in secret, saying, ‘Behold, the king delights in you, and all his servants love you; now then, become the king’s son-in-law.’” 23 So Saul’s servants spoke these words [ p ] to David. But David said, “Is it trivial in your sight to become the king’s son-in-law, ( AE ) since I am only a poor man and insignificant?” 24 Then Saul’s servants reported to him, saying, “ [ q ] These are the words David spoke.” 25 Saul then said, “This is what you shall say to David: ‘The king does not desire any ( AF ) dowry except a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, ( AG ) to take vengeance on the king’s enemies.’” But ( AH ) Saul plotted to have David fall by the hand of the Philistines. 26 When his servants told David these words, [ r ] it pleased David to become the king’s son-in-law. So [ s ] ( AI ) before the time had expired, 27 David set out and went, ( AJ ) he and his men, and fatally struck two hundred men among the Philistines. Then ( AK ) David brought their foreskins, and they presented all two hundred of them to the king, so that he might become the king’s son-in-law. And Saul gave him his daughter Michal as a wife. 28 When Saul saw and realized that the Lord was with David, and that Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved him, 29 then Saul was even more afraid of David. So Saul was David’s enemy continually.
30 Then the commanders of the Philistines ( AL ) went to battle , and it happened as often as they went out, that David ( AM ) was more [ t ] successful than all the servants of Saul. So his name was held in high esteem.
18 After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan ( A ) became one in spirit with David, and he loved ( B ) him as himself. ( C ) 2 From that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return home to his family. 3 And Jonathan made a covenant ( D ) with David because he loved him as himself. 4 Jonathan took off the robe ( E ) he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt. ( F )
5 Whatever mission Saul sent him on, David was so successful ( G ) that Saul gave him a high rank in the army. ( H ) This pleased all the troops, and Saul’s officers as well.
6 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, ( I ) with joyful songs and with timbrels ( J ) and lyres. 7 As they danced, they sang: ( K )
“Saul has slain his thousands,
and David his tens ( L ) of thousands.”
8 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? ( M ) ” 9 And from that time on Saul kept a close ( N ) eye on David.
10 The next day an evil [ a ] spirit ( O ) from God came forcefully on Saul. He was prophesying in his house, while David was playing the lyre, ( P ) as he usually ( Q ) did. Saul had a spear ( R ) in his hand 11 and he hurled it, saying to himself, ( S ) “I’ll pin David to the wall.” But David eluded ( T ) him twice. ( U )
12 Saul was afraid ( V ) of David, because the Lord ( W ) was with ( X ) David but had departed from ( Y ) Saul. 13 So he sent David away from him and gave him command over a thousand men, and David led ( Z ) the troops in their campaigns. ( AA ) 14 In everything he did he had great success, ( AB ) because the Lord was with ( AC ) him. 15 When Saul saw how successful he was, he was afraid of him. 16 But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he led them in their campaigns. ( AD )
17 Saul said to David, “Here is my older daughter ( AE ) Merab. I will give her to you in marriage; ( AF ) only serve me bravely and fight the battles ( AG ) of the Lord .” For Saul said to himself, ( AH ) “I will not raise a hand against him. Let the Philistines do that!”
18 But David said to Saul, “Who am I, ( AI ) and what is my family or my clan in Israel, that I should become the king’s son-in-law? ( AJ ) ” 19 So [ b ] when the time came for Merab, ( AK ) Saul’s daughter, to be given to David, she was given in marriage to Adriel of Meholah. ( AL )
20 Now Saul’s daughter Michal ( AM ) was in love with David, and when they told Saul about it, he was pleased. ( AN ) 21 “I will give her to him,” he thought, “so that she may be a snare ( AO ) 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 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 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? ( AP ) I’m only a poor man and little known.”
24 When Saul’s servants told him what David had said, 25 Saul replied, “Say to David, ‘The king wants no other price ( AQ ) for the bride than a hundred Philistine foreskins, to take revenge ( AR ) on his enemies.’” Saul’s plan ( AS ) was to have David fall by the hands of the Philistines.
26 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 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 ( AT ) in marriage.
28 When Saul realized that the Lord was with David and that his daughter Michal ( AU ) loved David, 29 Saul became still more afraid ( AV ) of him, and he remained his enemy the rest of his days.
30 The Philistine commanders continued to go out to battle, and as often as they did, David met with more success ( AW ) than the rest of Saul’s officers, and his name became well known.
