1 Samuel 18
1 When he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was bound to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.
And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.
2 Saul took David into his service that day; he did not let him return to his father's house.
And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father’s house.
3 Then Jonathan and David made a covenant of friendship because Jonathan loved him as his own soul.
Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.
4 Jonathan took off the robe that he was wearing and gave it to David with his armor, as well as his sword, bow, and belt.
And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that [was] upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.
5 David went out wherever Saul sent him, and he succeeded. Saul set him over the men of war. This was pleasing in the eyes of all the people and also in the sight of Saul's servants.
And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, [and] behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul’s servants.
6 As they came home from defeating the Philistines, the women came from all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with joy, and with musical instruments.
And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick.
7 The women sang one to another as they played. They sang: “Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands.”
And the women answered [one another] as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.
8 Saul was very angry, and this song displeased him. He said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, but they have ascribed only thousands to me. What more can he have but the monarchy?”
And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed [but] thousands: and [what] can he have more but the kingdom?
9 Saul looked at David with suspicion from that day on.
And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.
10 The next day a harmful spirit from God rushed upon Saul and he raved within the house. So David played his instrument, as he did each day. Saul had a spear in his hand.
And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and [there was] a javelin in Saul’s hand.
11 Saul threw the spear, for he thought, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David escaped from Saul's presence twice in this way.
And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall [with it]. And David avoided out of his presence twice.
12 Saul was afraid of David, because Yahweh was with him, but was no longer with Saul.
And Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with him, and was departed from Saul.
13 So Saul removed him from his presence and appointed him a commander of a thousand. In this way David went out and came in before the people.
Therefore Saul removed him from him, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people.
14 David was prospering in all his ways, for Yahweh was with him.
And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the LORD [was] with him.
15 When Saul saw that he prospered, he stood in awe of him.
Wherefore when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he was afraid of him.
16 But all Israel and Judah loved David, for he went out and came in before them.
But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them.
17 Then Saul said to David, “Here is my oldest daughter Merab. I will give her to you as a wife. Only be courageous for me and fight Yahweh's battles.” For Saul thought, “Let not my hand be on him, but let the hand of the Philistines be on him.”
And Saul said to David, Behold my elder daughter Merab, her will I give thee to wife: only be thou valiant for me, and fight the LORD’s battles. For Saul said, Let not mine hand be upon him, but let the hand of the Philistines be upon him.
18 David said to Saul, “Who am I, and who are my relatives, or my father's clan in Israel, that I should be son-in-law to the king?”
And David said unto Saul, Who [am] I? and what [is] my life, [or] my father’s family in Israel, that I should be son in law to the king?
19 But at the time when Merab, Saul's daughter, should have been given to David, she was given to Adriel the Meholathite as a wife.
But it came to pass at the time when Merab Saul’s daughter should have been given to David, that she was given unto Adriel the Meholathite to wife.
20 But Michal, Saul's daughter, loved David. They told Saul, and this pleased him.
And Michal Saul’s daughter loved David: and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him.
21 Then Saul thought, “I will give her to him, so that she can be a trap for him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” So Saul said to David a second time, “You will be my son-in-law.”
And Saul said, I will give him her, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. Wherefore Saul said to David, Thou shalt this day be my son in law in [the one of] the twain.
22 Saul commanded his servants, “Speak with David in private, and say, 'See, the king takes pleasure in you, and all his servants love you. Now then, become the king's son-in-law.'”
And Saul commanded his servants, [saying], Commune with David secretly, and say, Behold, the king hath delight in thee, and all his servants love thee: now therefore be the king’s son in law.
23 So Saul's servants spoke these words to David. Then David said, “Is it a small matter to you to be the king's son-in-law, since I am a poor man, and lightly esteemed?”
And Saul’s servants spake those words in the ears of David. And David said, Seemeth it to you [a] light [thing] to be a king’s son in law, seeing that I [am] a poor man, and lightly esteemed?
24 The servants of Saul reported to him the words which David spoke.
And the servants of Saul told him, saying, On this manner spake David.
25 Then Saul said, “Say this to David, 'The king does not desire any price for the bride except a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged from the king's enemies.'” Now Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.
And Saul said, Thus shall ye say to David, The king desireth not any dowry, but an hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king’s enemies. But Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.
26 When his servants told David these words, it pleased David to be the king's son-in-law.
And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king’s son in law: and the days were not expired.
27 Before those days had expired, David went with his men and killed two hundred Philistines. David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full number to the king, so that he might be the king's son-in-law. So Saul gave him Michal his daughter as his wife.
Wherefore David arose and went, he and his men, and slew of the Philistines two hundred men; and David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full tale to the king, that he might be the king’s son in law. And Saul gave him Michal his daughter to wife.
28 When Saul saw, and he knew that Yahweh was with David, and that Michal, Saul's daughter, loved him,
And Saul saw and knew that the LORD [was] with David, and [that] Michal Saul’s daughter loved him.
29 Saul was even more afraid of David. Saul was continually David's enemy.
And Saul was yet the more afraid of David; and Saul became David’s enemy continually.
30 Then the princes of the Philistines came out for battle, and as often as they came out, David succeeded more than all the servants of Saul, so that his name was highly regarded.
Then the princes of the Philistines went forth: and it came to pass, after they went forth, [that] David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul; so that his name was much set by.
