1 Samuel 19
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1Saul told his son Jonathan and all the attendants to kill David. But Jonathan had taken a great liking to David1Saul ordered his son Jonathan and all his servants to kill David. But Saul's son Jonathan liked David very much,
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 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.
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'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."
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.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.
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 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?"
6Saul listened to Jonathan and took this oath: "As surely as the LORD lives, David will not be put to death."6Saul listened to Jonathan's advice and swore an oath: "As surely as the LORD lives, David will not be killed."
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 words. Then Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he served him as he did 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 against the Philistines. He defeated them with such a great force that they fled from 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,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,
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.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.
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."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!"
12So Michal let David down through a window, and he fled and escaped.12So she lowered David from the window, and he fled 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 the household idol and put it on 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 agents to seize David, Michal said, "He's sick."
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."15Saul sent the agents back to see David and said, "Bring him on 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.16When the messengers arrived, to their surprise, the household idol was on the bed with some goat 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?'"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?'"
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 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.
19Word came to Saul: "David is in Naioth at Ramah";19When it was reported to Saul 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 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.
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 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.
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.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.
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 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.
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?"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?"
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1 Samuel 18
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