| English Standard Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1And Saul spoke to Jonathan his son and to all his servants, that they should kill David. But Jonathan, Saul’s son, delighted much in David. | 1Saul ordered his son Jonathan and all his servants to kill David. But Saul's son Jonathan liked David very much, |
| 2And Jonathan told David, “Saul my father seeks to kill you. Therefore be on your guard in the morning. Stay in a secret place and hide yourself. | 2so he told him: "My father Saul intends to kill you. Be on your guard in the morning and hide in a secret place and stay there. |
| 3And I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are, and I will speak to my father about you. And if I learn anything I will tell you.” | 3I'll go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are and talk to him about you. When I see what he says, I'll tell you." |
| 4And Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father and said to him, “Let not the king sin against his servant David, because he has not sinned against you, and because his deeds have brought good to you. | 4Jonathan spoke well of David to his father Saul. He said to him: "The king should not sin against his servant David. He hasn't sinned against you; in fact, his actions have been a great advantage to you. |
| 5For he took his life in his hand and he struck down the Philistine, and the LORD worked a great salvation for all Israel. You saw it, and rejoiced. Why then will you sin against innocent blood by killing David without cause?” | 5He took his life in his hands when he struck down the Philistine, and the LORD brought about a great victory for all Israel. You saw it and rejoiced, so why would you sin against innocent blood by killing David for no reason?" |
| 6And Saul listened to the voice of Jonathan. Saul swore, “As the LORD lives, he shall not be put to death.” | 6Saul listened to Jonathan's advice and swore an oath: "As surely as the LORD lives, David will not be killed." |
| 7And Jonathan called David, and Jonathan reported to him all these things. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence as before. | 7So Jonathan summoned David and told him all these words. Then Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he served him as he did before. |
| 8And there was war again. And David went out and fought with the Philistines and struck them with a great blow, so that they fled before him. | 8When war broke out again, David went out and fought against the Philistines. He defeated them with such a great force that they fled from him. |
| 9Then a harmful spirit from the LORD came upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his spear in his hand. And David was playing the lyre. | 9Now an evil spirit sent from the LORD came on Saul as he was sitting in his palace holding a spear. David was playing the lyre, |
| 10And Saul sought to pin David to the wall with the spear, but he eluded Saul, so that he struck the spear into the wall. And David fled and escaped that night. | 10and Saul tried to pin David to the wall with the spear. As the spear struck the wall, David eluded Saul, ran away, and escaped that night. |
| 11Saul sent messengers to David’s house to watch him, that he might kill him in the morning. But Michal, David’s wife, told him, “If you do not escape with your life tonight, tomorrow you will be killed.” | 11Saul sent agents to David's house to watch for him and kill him in the morning. But his wife Michal warned David, "If you don't escape tonight, you will be dead tomorrow!" |
| 12So Michal let David down through the window, and he fled away and escaped. | 12So she lowered David from the window, and he fled and escaped. |
| 13Michal took an image and laid it on the bed and put a pillow of goats’ hair at its head and covered it with the clothes. | 13Then Michal took the household idol and put it on the bed, placed some goat hair on its head, and covered it with a garment. |
| 14And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, “He is sick.” | 14When Saul sent agents to seize David, Michal said, "He's sick." |
| 15Then Saul sent the messengers to see David, saying, “Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may kill him.” | 15Saul sent the agents back to see David and said, "Bring him on his bed so I can kill him." |
| 16And when the messengers came in, behold, the image was in the bed, with the pillow of goats’ hair at its head. | 16When the messengers arrived, to their surprise, the household idol was on the bed with some goat hair on its head. |
| 17Saul said to Michal, “Why have you deceived me thus and let my enemy go, so that he has escaped?” And Michal answered Saul, “He said to me, ‘Let me go. Why should I kill you?’” | 17Saul asked Michal, "Why did you deceive me like this? You sent my enemy away, and he has escaped!" She answered him, "He said to me, 'Let me go! Why should I kill you?'" |
| 18Now David fled and escaped, and he came to Samuel at Ramah and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and lived at Naioth. | 18So David fled and escaped and went to Samuel at Ramah and told him everything Saul had done to him. Then he and Samuel left and stayed at Naioth. |
| 19And it was told Saul, “Behold, David is at Naioth in Ramah.” | 19When it was reported to Saul that David was at Naioth in Ramah, |
| 20Then Saul sent messengers to take David, and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as head over them, the Spirit of God came upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied. | 20he sent agents to seize David. However, when they saw the group of prophets prophesying with Samuel leading them, the Spirit of God came on Saul's agents, and they also started prophesying. |
| 21When it was told Saul, he sent other messengers, and they also prophesied. And Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they also prophesied. | 21When they reported to Saul, he sent other agents, and they also began prophesying. So Saul tried again and sent a third group of agents, and even they began prophesying. |
| 22Then he himself went to Ramah and came to the great well that is in Secu. And he asked, “Where are Samuel and David?” And one said, “Behold, they are at Naioth in Ramah.” | 22Then Saul himself went to Ramah. He came to the large cistern at Secu, looked around, and asked, "Where are Samuel and David?" "At Naioth in Ramah," someone said. |
| 23And he went there to Naioth in Ramah. And the Spirit of God came upon him also, and as he went he prophesied until he came to Naioth in Ramah. | 23So he went to Naioth in Ramah. The Spirit of God also came on him, and as he walked along, he prophesied until he entered Naioth in Ramah. |
| 24And he too stripped off his clothes, and he too prophesied before Samuel and lay naked all that day and all that night. Thus it is said, “Is Saul also among the prophets?” | 24Saul then removed his clothes and also prophesied before Samuel; he collapsed and lay naked all that day and all that night. That is why they say, "Is Saul also among the prophets?" |
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