| Christian Standard Bible | Berean Study Bible |
| 1When David had finished speaking with Saul, Jonathan was bound to David in close friendship, and loved him as much as he loved himself. | 1After David had finished speaking with Saul, the souls of Jonathan and David were knit together, and Jonathan loved him as himself. |
| 2Saul kept David with him from that day on and did not let him return to his father's house. | 2And from that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return to his father’s house. |
| 3Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as much as himself. | 3Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. |
| 4Then Jonathan removed the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his military tunic, his sword, his bow, and his belt. | 4And Jonathan removed the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, his sword, his bow, and his belt. |
| 5David marched out with the army and was successful in everything Saul sent him to do. Saul put him in command of the fighting men, which pleased all the people and Saul's servants as well. | 5So David marched out and prospered in everything Saul sent him to do, and Saul set him over the men of war. And this was pleasing in the sight of all the people, and of Saul’s officers as well. |
| 6As the troops were coming back, when David was returning from killing the Philistine, the women came out from all the cities of Israel to meet King Saul, singing and dancing with tambourines, with shouts of joy, and with three-stringed instruments. | 6As the troops were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs, and with tambourines and other instruments. |
| 7As they danced, the women sang: Saul has killed his thousands, but David his tens of thousands. | 7And as the women danced, they sang out: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.” |
| 8Saul was furious and resented this song. "They credited tens of thousands to David," he complained, "but they only credited me with thousands. What more can he have but the kingdom?" | 8And Saul was furious and resented this song. “They have ascribed tens of thousands to David,” he said, “but only thousands to me. What more can he have but the kingdom?” |
| 9So Saul watched David jealously from that day forward. | 9And from that day forward Saul kept a jealous eye on David. |
| 10The next day an evil spirit sent from God came powerfully on Saul, and he began to rave inside the palace. David was playing the lyre as usual, but Saul was holding a spear, | 10The next day a spirit of distress sent from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied inside the house while David played the harp as usual. Now Saul was holding a spear, |
| 11and he threw it, thinking, "I'll pin David to the wall." But David got away from him twice. | 11and he hurled it, thinking, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David eluded him twice. |
| 12Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with David but had left Saul. | 12So Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with David but had departed from Saul. |
| 13Therefore, Saul sent David away from him and made him commander over a thousand men. David led the troops | 13Therefore Saul sent David away and gave him command of a thousand men. David led the troops out to battle and back, |
| 14and continued to be successful in all his activities because the LORD was with him. | 14and he continued to prosper in all his ways, because the LORD was with him. |
| 15When Saul observed that David was very successful, he dreaded him. | 15When Saul saw that David was very successful, he was afraid of him. |
| 16But all Israel and Judah loved David because he was leading their troops. | 16But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he was leading them out to battle and back. |
| 17Saul told David, "Here is my oldest daughter Merab. I'll give her to you as a wife, if you will be a warrior for me and fight the LORD's battles." But Saul was thinking, "I don't need to raise a hand against him; let the hand of the Philistines be against him." | 17Then Saul said to David, “Here is my older daughter Merab. I will give her to you in marriage. Only be valiant for me and fight the LORD’s battles.” But Saul was thinking, “I need not raise my hand against him; let the hand of the Philistines be against him.” |
| 18Then David responded, "Who am I, and what is my family or my father's clan in Israel that I should become the king's son-in-law?" | 18And David said to Saul, “Who am I, and what is my family or my father’s clan in Israel, that I should become the son-in-law of the king?” |
| 19When it was time to give Saul's daughter Merab to David, she was given to Adriel the Meholathite as a wife. | 19So when it was time to give Saul’s daughter Merab to David, she was given in marriage to Adriel of Meholah. |
| 20Now Saul's daughter Michal loved David, and when it was reported to Saul, it pleased him. | 20Now Saul’s daughter Michal loved David, and when this was reported to Saul, it pleased him. |
| 21"I'll give her to him," Saul thought. "She'll be a trap for him, and the hand of the Philistines will be against him." So Saul said to David a second time, "You can now be my son-in-law." | 21“I will give her to David,” Saul thought, “so that she may be a snare to him, and the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” So Saul said to David, “For a second time now you can be my son-in-law.” |
| 22Saul then ordered his servants, "Speak to David in private and tell him, 'Look, the king is pleased with you, and all his servants love you. Therefore, you should become the king's son-in-law.'" | 22Then Saul ordered his servants, “Speak to David privately and tell him, ‘Behold, the king is pleased with you, and all his servants love you. Now therefore, become his son-in-law.’ ” |
| 23Saul's servants reported these words directly to David, but he replied, "Is it trivial in your sight to become the king's son-in-law? I am a poor commoner." | 23But when Saul’s servants relayed these words to David, he replied, “Does it seem trivial in your sight to be the son-in-law of the king? I am a poor man and lightly esteemed.” |
| 24The servants reported back to Saul, "These are the words David spoke." | 24And the servants told Saul what David had said. |
| 25Then Saul replied, "Say this to David: 'The king desires no other bride-price except a hundred Philistine foreskins, to take revenge on his enemies.'" Actually, Saul intended to cause David's death at the hands of the Philistines. | 25Saul replied, “Say to David, ‘The king desires no other dowry but a hundred Philistine foreskins as revenge on his enemies.’ ” But Saul intended to cause David’s death at the hands of the Philistines. |
| 26When the servants reported these terms to David, he was pleased to become the king's son-in-law. Before the wedding day arrived, | 26When the servants reported these terms to David, he was pleased to become the king’s son-in-law. Before the wedding day arrived, |
| 27David and his men went out and killed two hundred Philistines. He brought their foreskins and presented them as full payment to the king to become his son-in-law. Then Saul gave his daughter Michal to David as his wife. | 27David and his men went out and killed two hundred Philistines. He brought their foreskins and presented them as payment in full to become the king’s son-in-law. Then Saul gave his daughter Michal to David in marriage. |
| 28Saul realized that the LORD was with David and that his daughter Michal loved him, | 28When Saul realized that the LORD was with David and that his daughter Michal loved David, |
| 29and he became even more afraid of David. As a result, Saul was David's enemy from then on. | 29he grew even more afraid of David. So from then on Saul was David’s enemy. |
| 30Every time the Philistine commanders came out to fight, David was more successful than all of Saul's officers. So his name became well known. | 30Every time the Philistine commanders came out for battle, David was more successful than all of Saul’s officers, so that his name was highly esteemed. |
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