| New International Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 1Saul told his son Jonathan and all the attendants to kill David. But Jonathan had taken a great liking to David | 1Then Saul ordered his son Jonathan and all his servants to kill David. But Jonathan delighted greatly in David, |
| 2and warned him, "My father Saul is looking for a chance to kill you. Be on your guard tomorrow morning; go into hiding 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 will go out and stand with my father in the field where you are. I'll speak to him about you and will tell you what I find out." | 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 Saul his father and said to him, "Let not the king do wrong to his servant David; he has not wronged you, and what he has done has benefited you greatly. | 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 killed the Philistine. The LORD won a great victory for all Israel, and you saw it and were glad. Why then would you do wrong to an innocent man like David by killing him 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 and took this oath: "As surely as the LORD lives, David will not be put to death." | 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 called David and told him the whole conversation. He brought him to Saul, and David was with Saul as before. | 7So Jonathan summoned David and told him all these things. Then Jonathan brought David to Saul to serve him as he had before. |
| 8Once more war broke out, and David went out and fought the Philistines. He struck them with such force that they fled before 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. |
| 9But an evil spirit from the LORD came on Saul as he was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand. While 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, |
| 10Saul tried to pin him to the wall with his spear, but David eluded him as Saul drove the spear into the wall. That night David made good his escape. | 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 men to David's house to watch it and to kill him in the morning. But Michal, David's wife, warned him, "If you don't run for your life tonight, tomorrow you'll be killed." | 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 Michal let David down through a window, and he fled and escaped. | 12So Michal lowered David from the window, and he ran away and escaped. |
| 13Then Michal took an idol and laid it on the bed, covering it with a garment and putting some goats' hair at the head. | 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 the men to capture David, Michal said, "He is ill." | 14When Saul sent the messengers to seize David, Michal said, “He is ill.” |
| 15Then Saul sent the men back to see David and told them, "Bring him up to me in his bed so that I may 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.” |
| 16But when the men entered, there was the idol in the bed, and at the head was some goats' hair. | 16And when the messengers entered, there was the idol in the bed with the quilt of goats’ hair on its head. |
| 17Saul said to Michal, "Why did you deceive me like this and send my enemy away so that he escaped?" Michal told him, "He said to me, 'Let me get away. 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!’ ” |
| 18When David had fled and made his escape, 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. | 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. |
| 19Word came to Saul: "David is in Naioth at Ramah"; | 19When Saul was told that David was at Naioth in Ramah, |
| 20so he sent men to capture him. But when they saw a group of prophets prophesying, with Samuel standing there as their leader, the Spirit of God came on Saul's men, and they also prophesied. | 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. |
| 21Saul was told about it, and he sent more men, and they prophesied too. Saul sent men a third time, and they also prophesied. | 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. |
| 22Finally, he himself left for Ramah and went to the great cistern at Seku. And he asked, "Where are Samuel and David?" "Over in Naioth at Ramah," they 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 Saul went to Naioth at Ramah. But the Spirit of God came even on him, and he walked along prophesying until he came to Naioth. | 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. |
| 24He stripped off his garments, and he too prophesied in Samuel's presence. He lay naked all that day and all that night. This is why people 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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