Jonathan Befriends David

1And it came to pass, when he had ended speaking to Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. 2And Saul took him that day, and would not let him return to his father's house. 3And Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. 4And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his dress, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.

Saul Envies David

5And David went forth; whithersoever Saul sent him he prospered; 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.

6And it came to pass as they came, when David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tambours, with joy, and with triangles.

7And the women answered [one another] as they played, and said, Saul hath smitten his thousands, And David his ten thousands.

8And Saul was very wroth, and that saying was evil in his sight; and he said, They have ascribed to David ten thousands, but to me they have ascribed the thousands; and [what] is there more for him but the kingdom? 9And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.

10And it came to pass the next day that an evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house, but David played with his hand, as on other days; and the spear was in Saul's hand. 11And Saul cast the spear, and thought, I will smite David and the wall. But David turned away from him twice.

12And Saul was afraid of David, because Jehovah was with him, and had departed from Saul. 13And Saul removed him from him, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people. 14And David prospered in all his ways; and Jehovah was with him. 15And Saul saw that he prospered well, and he stood in awe of him. 16But all Israel and Judah loved David, for he went out and came in before them.

David Marries Michal

17And Saul said to David, Behold my eldest daughter Merab, her will I give thee to wife; only be thou valiant for me, and fight Jehovah's battles. But Saul thought, My hand shall not be upon him, but the hand of the Philistines shall be upon him. 18And David said to 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? 19And it came to pass at the time when Merab Saul's daughter should have been given to David, that she was given to Adriel the Meholathite as wife.

20And Michal Saul's daughter loved David; and they told Saul, and the thing was right in his sight. 21And Saul said, I will give him her, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be upon him. And Saul said to David, Thou shalt this day be my son-in-law a second time. 22And Saul commanded his servants, Speak with David secretly, saying, Behold, the king has delight in thee, and all his servants love thee: now therefore be the king's son-in-law. 23And Saul's servants spoke those words in the ears of David. And David said, Is it a light thing in your eyes to be the king's son-in-law, seeing that I am a poor man, and lightly esteemed? 24And the servants of Saul told him, saying, On this manner did David speak. 25And Saul said, Thus shall ye say to David: The king does not desire any dowry, but a 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. 26And his servants told David these words; and the thing was right in David's sight to be the king's son-in-law. And the days were not expired, 27when David arose and went, he and his men, and smote of the Philistines two hundred men; and David brought their foreskins, and they delivered them in full to the king, that he might be the king's son-in-law. And Saul gave him Michal his daughter as wife. 28And Saul saw and knew that Jehovah was with David; and Michal Saul's daughter loved him. 29And Saul was yet the more afraid of David; and Saul was David's enemy continually.

30And the princes of the Philistines went forth; and it came to pass, whenever they went forth, that David succeeded better than all the servants of Saul; and his name was much esteemed.