Jonathan Befriends David

1And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking to Saul, the son of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. 2And Saul took him that day, and would not let him return to his father's house. 3And David and Jonathan made a covenant, for he loved him as his own soul. 4And Jonathan stripped himself of the coat with which he was clothed, and gave it to David, and the rest of his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.

Saul Envies David

5And David went out to whatsoever business Saul sent him, and he behaved himself prudently: and Saul set him over the soldiers, and he was acceptable in the eyes of all the people, and especially in the eyes of Saul's servants.

6Now when David returned, after he slew the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with timbrels of joy, and cornets.

7And the women sung as they played, and they said: Saul slew his thousands, and David his ten thousands.

8And Saul was exceeding angry, and this word was displeasing in his eyes, and he said: They have given David ten thousands, and to me they have given but a thousand, what can he have more but the kingdom? 9And Saul did not look on David with a good eye from that day and forward.

10And the day after, the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of his house. And David played with his hand as at other times. And Saul held a spear in his hand, 11And threw it, thinking to nail David to the wall: and David stept aside out of his presence twice.

12And Saul feared David, because the Lord was with him, and was departed from Saul himself. 13Therefore Saul removed him from him, and made him a captain over a thousand men, and he went out and came in before the people. 14And David behaved wisely in all his ways, and the Lord was with him. 15And Saul saw that he was exceeding prudent, and began to beware of him. 16But all Israel and Juda loved David, for he came in and went out before them.

David Marries Michal

17And Saul said to David: Behold my elder daughter Merob, her will I give thee to wife: only be a valiant man, and fight the battles of the Lord. Now Saul said within himself: Let not my hand be upon him, but let the hands of the Philistines be upon him. 18And David said to Saul: Who am I, or what is my life, or my father's family in Israel, that I should be son in law of the king? 19And it came to pass at the time when Merob, the daughter of Saul, should have been given to David, that she was given to Hadriel, the Molathite, to wife.

20But Michol, the other daughter of Saul, loved David. And it was told Saul, and it pleased him. 21And Saul said: I will give her to him, that she may be a stumblingblock to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be upon him. And Saul said to David: In two things thou shalt be my son in law this day. 22And Saul commanded his servants to speak to David privately, saying: Behold, thou pleasest the king, and all his servants love thee. Now, therefore be the king's son in law. 23And the servants of Saul spoke all these words in the ear of David. And David said: Doth it seem to you a small matter to be the king's son in law? But I am a poor man, and of small ability. 24And the servants of Saul told him, saying: Such words as these hath David spoken. 25And Saul said: Speak thus to David: The king desireth not any dowry, but only a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king's enemies. Now Saul thought to deliver David into the hands of the Philistines. 26And when his servants had told David the words that Saul had said, the word was pleasing in the eyes of David to be the king's son in law. 27And after a few days David rose up, and went with the men that were under him, and he slew of the Philistines two hundred men, and brought their foreskins and numbered them out to the king, that he might be his son in law. Saul therefore gave him Michol, his daughter, to wife. 28And Saul saw, and understood that the Lord was with David. And Michol, the daughter of Saul, loved him. 29And Saul began to fear David more: and Saul became David's enemy continually.

30And the princes of the Philistines went forth: and from the beginning of their going forth, David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul, and his name became very famous.