| Holman Christian Standard Bible | Berean Study Bible |
| 1Saul ordered his son Jonathan and all his servants to kill David. But Saul's son Jonathan liked David very much, | 1Then Saul ordered his son Jonathan and all his servants to kill David. But Jonathan delighted greatly in David, |
| 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. | 2so he warned David, saying, “My father Saul intends to kill you. Be on your guard in the morning; find a secret place and hide there. |
| 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." | 3I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are, so I can ask about you. And if I find out anything, I will tell 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. | 4Then Jonathan spoke well of David to his father Saul and said to him, “The king should not sin against his servant David; he has not sinned against you. In fact, his actions have been highly beneficial to you. |
| 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?" | 5He took his life in his hands when he struck down the Philistine, and the LORD worked a great salvation for all Israel. You saw it and rejoiced, so why would you sin against innocent blood by killing David for no reason?” |
| 6Saul listened to Jonathan's advice and swore an oath: "As surely as the LORD lives, David will not be killed." | 6Saul listened to the voice of Jonathan and swore an oath: “As surely as the LORD lives, David will not be put to death.” |
| 7So Jonathan summoned David and told him all these words. Then Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he served him as he did before. | 7So Jonathan summoned David and told him all these things. Then Jonathan brought David to Saul to serve him as he had before. |
| 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. | 8When war broke out again, David went out and fought the Philistines and struck them with such a mighty blow that they fled before him. |
| 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, | 9But as Saul was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand, a spirit of distress from the LORD came upon him. While David was playing the harp, |
| 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. | 10Saul tried to pin him to the wall with his spear. But the spear struck the wall and David eluded him, ran away, and escaped that night. |
| 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!" | 11Then Saul sent messengers to David’s house to watch him and kill him in the morning. But David’s wife Michal warned him, “If you do not run for your life tonight, tomorrow you will be dead!” |
| 12So she lowered David from the window, and he fled and escaped. | 12So Michal lowered David from the window, and he ran away and escaped. |
| 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. | 13Then Michal took a household idol and laid it in the bed, placed some goat hair on its head, and covered it with a garment. |
| 14When Saul sent agents to seize David, Michal said, "He's sick." | 14When Saul sent the messengers to seize David, Michal said, “He is ill.” |
| 15Saul sent the agents back to see David and said, "Bring him on his bed so I can kill him." | 15But Saul sent the messengers back to see David and told them, “Bring him up to me in his bed so I can kill him.” |
| 16When the messengers arrived, to their surprise, the household idol was on the bed with some goat hair on its head. | 16And when the messengers entered, there was the idol in the bed with the quilt of goats’ hair on its head. |
| 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?'" | 17And Saul said to Michal, “Why did you deceive me like this? You sent my enemy away and he has escaped!” Michal replied, “He said to me, ‘Help me get away, or I will kill you!’ ” |
| 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. | 18So David ran away and escaped. And he went to Samuel at Ramah and told him all that Saul had done to him. Then he and Samuel went to Naioth and stayed there. |
| 19When it was reported to Saul that David was at Naioth in Ramah, | 19When Saul was told that David was at Naioth in Ramah, |
| 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. | 20he sent messengers to capture him. But when they saw the group of prophets prophesying, with Samuel leading them, the Spirit of God came upon them, and Saul’s messengers also began to prophesy. |
| 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. | 21When this was reported to Saul, he sent more messengers, but they began to prophesy as well. So Saul tried again and sent messengers a third time, and even they began to prophesy. |
| 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. | 22Finally, Saul himself left for Ramah and came to the large cistern at Secu, where he asked, “Where are Samuel and David?” “At Naioth in Ramah,” he was told. |
| 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. | 23So Saul went to Naioth in Ramah. But the Spirit of God came upon even Saul, and he walked along prophesying until he came to Naioth in Ramah. |
| 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?" | 24Then Saul stripped off his robes and also prophesied before Samuel. And he collapsed and lay naked all that day and night. That is why it is said, “Is Saul also among the prophets?” |
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