International Standard Version

English Standard Version

1When David finished speaking with Saul, Jonathan became a close friend to David, and Jonathan loved him as himself.

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.

2Saul took David that day and did not let him return to his father's house.

2And Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father’s house.

3Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as he loved himself.

3Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

7As the women sang and played, they said, "Saul has struck down his thousands but David his ten thousands."

7And the women sang to one another as they celebrated, “Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten 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?"

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?”

9From then on Saul kept his eye on David.

9And Saul eyed David from that day on.

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 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.

11Saul hurled it, thinking, "I'll pin David to the wall." But David escaped from him twice.

11And Saul hurled the spear, for he thought, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David evaded 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 him 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 Saul removed him from his presence and made him a commander of a thousand. And he went out and came in before the people.

14David was successful in all that he did, for the LORD was with him.

14And David had success in all his undertakings, for the LORD was with him.

15When Saul saw that David was highly successful, he feared him.

15And when Saul saw that he had great success, he stood in fearful awe of him.

16But all Israel and Judah loved David because he led them in battle.

16But all Israel and Judah loved David, for he went out and came in before them.

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."

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.”

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?"

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?”

19And when the time came to give Saul's daughter Merab to David, she was given as a wife to Adriel of Meholah.

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.

20Saul's daughter Michal loved David. Saul was informed of this and he liked the idea.

20Now Saul’s daughter Michal loved David. And they told Saul, and the thing pleased him.

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."

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.”

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.'"

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.’”

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."

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?”

24Saul's officials reported to him: "This is what David said."

24And the servants of Saul told him, “Thus and so did David speak.”

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.

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.

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,

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,

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 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.

28As Saul continued to observe, he realized that the LORD was with David and that Saul's daughter Michal loved him.

28But when Saul saw and knew that the LORD was with David, and that Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved him,

29Then Saul was even more afraid of David, and Saul was David's enemy from that time on.

29Saul was even more afraid of David. So Saul was David’s enemy continually.

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.

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.

The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.