| English Standard Version | NET Bible |
| 1As 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. | 1When David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan and David became bound together in close friendship. Jonathan loved David as much as he did his own life. |
| 2And Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father’s house. | 2Saul retained David on that day and did not allow him to return to his father's house. |
| 3Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul. | 3Jonathan made a covenant with David, for he loved him as much as he did his own life. |
| 4And 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. | 4Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with the rest of his gear, including his sword, his bow, and even his belt. |
| 5And 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. | 5On every mission on which Saul sent him, David achieved success. So Saul appointed him over the men of war. This pleased not only all the army, but also Saul's servants. |
| 6As 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. | 6When the men arrived after David returned from striking down the Philistine, the women from all the cities of Israel came out singing and dancing to meet King Saul. They were happy as they played their tambourines and three-stringed instruments. |
| 7And the women sang to one another as they celebrated, “Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands.” | 7The women who were playing the music sang, "Saul has struck down his thousands, but David his tens of thousands!" |
| 8And 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?” | 8This made Saul very angry. The statement displeased him and he thought, "They have attributed to David tens of thousands, but to me they have attributed only thousands. What does he lack, except the kingdom?" |
| 9And Saul eyed David from that day on. | 9So Saul was keeping an eye on David from that day onward. |
| 10The 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. | 10The next day an evil spirit from God rushed upon Saul and he prophesied within his house. Now David was playing the lyre that day. There was a spear in Saul's hand, |
| 11And Saul hurled the spear, for he thought, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David evaded him twice. | 11and Saul threw the spear, thinking, "I'll nail David to the wall!" But David escaped from him on two different occasions. |
| 12Saul was afraid of David because the LORD was with him but had departed from Saul. | 12So Saul feared David, because the LORD was with him but had departed from Saul. |
| 13So Saul removed him from his presence and made him a commander of a thousand. And he went out and came in before the people. | 13Saul removed David from his presence and made him a commanding officer. David led the army out to battle and back. |
| 14And David had success in all his undertakings, for the LORD was with him. | 14Now David achieved success in all he did, for the LORD was with him. |
| 15And when Saul saw that he had great success, he stood in fearful awe of him. | 15When Saul saw how very successful he was, he was afraid of him. |
| 16But all Israel and Judah loved David, for he went out and came in before them. | 16But all Israel and Judah loved David, for he was the one leading them out to battle and back. |
| 17Then 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.” | 17Then Saul said to David, "Here's my oldest daughter, Merab. I want to give her to you in marriage. Only be a brave warrior for me and fight the battles of the LORD." For Saul thought, "There's no need for me to raise my hand against him. Let it be the hand of the Philistines!" |
| 18And 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?” | 18David said to Saul, "Who am I? Who are my relatives or the clan of my father in Israel that I should become the king's son-in-law?" |
| 19But at the time when Merab, Saul’s daughter, should have been given to David, she was given to Adriel the Meholathite for a wife. | 19When the time came for Merab, Saul's daughter, to be given to David, she instead was given in marriage to Adriel, who was from Meholah. |
| 20Now Saul’s daughter Michal loved David. And they told Saul, and the thing pleased him. | 20Now Michal, Saul's daughter, loved David. When they told Saul about this, it pleased him. |
| 21Saul 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.” | 21Saul said, "I will give her to him so that she may become a snare to him and the hand of the Philistines may be against him." So Saul said to David, "Today is the second time for you to become my son-in-law." |
| 22And 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.’” | 22Then Saul instructed his servants, "Tell David secretly, 'The king is pleased with you, and all his servants like you. So now become the king's son-in-law." |
| 23And 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?” | 23So Saul's servants spoke these words privately to David. David replied, "Is becoming the king's son-in-law something insignificant to you? I'm just a poor and lightly-esteemed man!" |
| 24And the servants of Saul told him, “Thus and so did David speak.” | 24When Saul's servants reported what David had said, |
| 25Then 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. | 25Saul replied, "Here is what you should say to David: 'There is nothing that the king wants as a price for the bride except a hundred Philistine foreskins, so that he can be avenged of his enemies.'" (Now Saul was thinking that he could kill David by the hand of the Philistines.) |
| 26And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king’s son-in-law. Before the time had expired, | 26So his servants told David these things and David agreed to become the king's son-in-law. Now the specified time had not yet expired |
| 27David 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. | 27when David, along with his men, went out and struck down two hundred Philistine men. David brought their foreskins and presented all of them to the king so he could become the king's son-in-law. Saul then gave him his daughter Michal in marriage. |
| 28But when Saul saw and knew that the LORD was with David, and that Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved him, | 28When Saul realized that the LORD was with David and that his daughter Michal loved David, |
| 29Saul was even more afraid of David. So Saul was David’s enemy continually. | 29Saul became even more afraid of him. Saul continued to be at odds with David from then on. |
| 30Then 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. | 30Then the leaders of the Philistines would march out, and as often as they did so, David achieved more success than all of Saul's servants. His name was held in high esteem. |
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