1 Samuel 18
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1When David finished speaking with Saul, Jonathan became a close friend to David, and Jonathan loved him as himself. 1After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself.
2Saul took David that day and did not let him return to his father's house. 2From that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return home to his family.
3Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as he loved himself. 3And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.
4Jonathan took off the robe that he had on and gave it to David, along with his coat, his sword, his bow, and his belt. 4Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt.
5David went out and was successful everywhere Saul sent him, and Saul put him in charge of the troops. This pleased the entire army, as well as Saul's officials. 5Whatever mission Saul sent him on, David was so successful that Saul gave him a high rank in the army. This pleased all the troops, and Saul's officers as well.
6When David returned from defeating the Philistine, as they were entering the city, women from all the towns of Israel came out to meet King Saul, singing and dancing as they joyously played tambourines and lyres. 6When 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, with joyful songs and with timbrels and lyres.
7As the women sang and played, they said, "Saul has struck down his thousands but David his ten thousands."7As they danced, they sang: "Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands."
8Saul was very angry and he did not like what the women sang. He told himself, "They have attributed tens of thousands to David, but to me they have attributed thousands. What else can he have but the kingdom?" 8Saul 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?"
9From then on Saul kept his eye on David. 9And from that time on Saul kept a close eye on David.
10The next day, while David was playing the lyre as he had before, the evil spirit from the LORD attacked Saul, and he began to rave inside the house with a spear in his hand. 10The next day an evil spirit from God came forcefully on Saul. He was prophesying in his house, while David was playing the lyre, as he usually did. Saul had a spear in his hand
11Saul hurled it, thinking, "I'll pin David to the wall." But David escaped from him twice.11and he hurled it, saying to himself, "I'll pin David to the wall." But David eluded him twice.
12Now Saul was afraid of David because the LORD was with him and had departed from Saul. 12Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with David but had departed from Saul.
13Saul removed David from his presence and made him an officer over a division of soldiers. So David led the troops in battle.13So he sent David away from him and gave him command over a thousand men, and David led the troops in their campaigns.
14David was successful in all that he did, for the LORD was with him. 14In everything he did he had great success, because the LORD was with him.
15When Saul saw that David was highly successful, he feared him. 15When Saul saw how successful he was, he was afraid of him.
16But all Israel and Judah loved David because he led them in battle. 16But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he led them in their campaigns.
17Saul told David, "Here is my older daughter Merab. I'll give her to you as a wife. Just be an excellent soldier for me and fight the LORD's battles." Now Saul told himself, "I won't harm him myself. Instead, I'll let the Philistines harm him." 17Saul said to David, "Here is my older daughter Merab. I will give her to you in marriage; only serve me bravely and fight the battles of the LORD." For Saul said to himself, "I will not raise a hand against him. Let the Philistines do that!"
18David told Saul, "Who am I and what is my life or my father's family in Israel that I should be the king's son-in-law?" 18But David said to Saul, "Who am I, and what is my family or my clan in Israel, that I should become the king's son-in-law?"
19And when the time came to give Saul's daughter Merab to David, she was given as a wife to Adriel of Meholah.19So when the time came for Merab, Saul's daughter, to be given to David, she was given in marriage to Adriel of Meholah.
20Saul's daughter Michal loved David. Saul was informed of this and he liked the idea.20Now Saul's daughter Michal was in love with David, and when they told Saul about it, he was pleased.
21Saul told himself, "I'll give her to him and she can be a snare to him and the Philistines will harm him." So Saul told David, "For a second time you can be my son-in-law today."21"I will give her to him," he thought, "so that she may be a snare 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."
22Saul commanded his officials, "Speak with David privately and say, 'Look, the king delights in you, and all his officials love you. Now become the king's son-in-law.'"22Then 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.'"
23Saul's officials delivered this message to David, and he asked, "Is becoming the king's son-in-law an unimportant thing to you? I'm a poor and unimportant man."23They repeated these words to David. But David said, "Do you think it is a small matter to become the king's son-in-law? I'm only a poor man and little known."
24Saul's officials reported to him: "This is what David said."24When Saul's servants told him what David had said,
25Saul said, "This is what you are to tell David, 'The king desires no bride price except 100 Philistine foreskins to take vengeance on the king's enemies.'" Now Saul thought he would cause David to die at the hand of the Philistines. 25Saul replied, "Say to David, 'The king wants no other price for the bride than a hundred Philistine foreskins, to take revenge on his enemies.'" Saul's plan was to have David fall by the hands of the Philistines.
26When his officials delivered this message to David, David decided it would be a good thing to become the king's son-in-law. Before the time was up, 26When the attendants told David these things, he was pleased to become the king's son-in-law. So before the allotted time elapsed,
27David got up, went out with his men, and struck down 200 Philistine men. David brought their foreskins and gave them all to the king so he could become the king's son-in-law. So Saul gave him his daughter Michal as a wife. 27David 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 in marriage.
28As Saul continued to observe, he realized that the LORD was with David and that Saul's daughter Michal loved him. 28When Saul realized that the LORD was with David and that his daughter Michal loved David,
29Then Saul was even more afraid of David, and Saul was David's enemy from that time on. 29Saul became still more afraid of him, and he remained his enemy the rest of his days.
30The Philistine commanders would go out to fight and whenever they did, David was more successful than any of Saul's other leaders. His name was held in high esteem.30The Philistine commanders continued to go out to battle, and as often as they did, David met with more success than the rest of Saul's officers, and his name became well known.
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1 Samuel 17
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