Darby Bible Translation

English Standard Version

Jonathan Befriends David

And 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.

1

David and Jonathan’s Friendship

As 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.

2

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

2

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

3

And Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.

3

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

4

And 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.

4

And 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.

5

Saul Envies David

And 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.

5

And 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.

6

And 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.

6

Saul’s Jealousy of David

As 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.a

7

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

7

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

8

And 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?

8

And 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?”

9

And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.

9

And Saul eyed David from that day on.

10

And 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.

10

The 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.

11

And Saul cast the spear, and thought, I will smite David and the wall. But David turned away from him twice.

11

And Saul hurled the spear, for he thought, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David evaded him twice.

12

And Saul was afraid of David, because Jehovah was with him, and had departed from Saul.

12

Saul was afraid of David because the Lord was with him but had departed from Saul.

13

And Saul removed him from him, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people.

13

So Saul removed him from his presence and made him a commander of a thousand. And he went out and came in before the people.

14

And David prospered in all his ways; and Jehovah was with him.

14

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

15

And Saul saw that he prospered well, and he stood in awe of him.

15

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

16

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

16

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

17

David Marries Michal

And 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.

17

David Marries Michal

Then 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.”

18

And 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?

18

And 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?”

19

And 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.

19

But at the time when Merab, Saul’s daughter, should have been given to David, she was given to Adriel the Meholathite for a wife.

20

And Michal Saul's daughter loved David; and they told Saul, and the thing was right in his sight.

20

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

21

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 upon him. And Saul said to David, Thou shalt this day be my son-in-law a second time.

21

Saul 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,b “You shall now be my son-in-law.”

22

And 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.

22

And 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.’”

23

And 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?

23

And 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?”

24

And the servants of Saul told him, saying, On this manner did David speak.

24

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

25

And 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.

25

Then 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.

26

And 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,

26

And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king’s son-in-law. Before the time had expired,

27

when 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.

27

David 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.

28

And Saul saw and knew that Jehovah was with David; and Michal Saul's daughter loved him.

28

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

29

And Saul was yet the more afraid of David; and Saul was David's enemy continually.

29

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

30

And 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.

30

Then 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.

Parallel

Darby Bible Translation

English Standard Version

1 Samuel 18

1 Samuel 18