New Revised Standard NRS
The Message Bible MSG
1 When David had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was bound to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.
1
By the time David had finished reporting to Saul, Jonathan was deeply impressed with David - an immediate bond was forged between them. He became totally committed to David. From that point on he would be David's number-one advocate and friend.
2 Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father's house.
2
Saul received David into his own household that day, no more to return to the home of his father.
3 Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul.
3
Jonathan, out of his deep love for David, made a covenant with him.
4 Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that he was wearing, and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt.
4
He formalized it with solemn gifts: his own royal robe and weapons - armor, sword, bow, and belt.
5 David went out and was successful wherever Saul sent him; as a result, Saul set him over the army. And all the people, even the servants of Saul, approved.
5
Whatever Saul gave David to do, he did it - and did it well. So well that Saul put him in charge of his military operations. Everybody, both the people in general and Saul's servants, approved of and admired David's leadership.
6 As they were coming home, when David returned from killing the Philistine, the women came out of all the towns of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with songs of joy, and with musical instruments.
6
As they returned home, after David had killed the Philistine, the women poured out of all the villages of Israel singing and dancing, welcoming King Saul with tambourines, festive songs, and lutes.
7 And the women sang to one another as they made merry, "Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands."
7
In playful frolic the women sang, Saul kills by the thousand, David by the ten thousand!
8 Saul was very angry, for this saying displeased him. He said, "They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed thousands; what more can he have but the kingdom?"
8
This made Saul angry - very angry. He took it as a personal insult. He said, "They credit David with 'ten thousands' and me with only 'thousands.' Before you know it they'll be giving him the kingdom!"
9 So Saul eyed David from that day on.
9
From that moment on, Saul kept his eye on David.
10 The next day an evil 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;
10
The next day an ugly mood was sent by God to afflict Saul, who became quite beside himself, raving. David played his harp, as he usually did at such times. Saul had a spear in his hand.
11 and Saul threw the spear, for he thought, "I will pin David to the wall." But David eluded him twice.
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Suddenly Saul threw the spear, thinking, "I'll nail David to the wall." David ducked, and the spear missed. This happened twice.
12 Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with him but had departed from Saul.
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Now Saul feared David. It was clear that God was with David and had left Saul.
13 So Saul removed him from his presence, and made him a commander of a thousand; and David marched out and came in, leading the army.
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So, Saul got David out of his sight by making him an officer in the army. David was in combat frequently.
14 David had success in all his undertakings; for the Lord was with him.
14
Everything David did turned out well. Yes, God was with him.
15 When Saul saw that he had great success, he stood in awe of him.
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As Saul saw David becoming more successful, he himself grew more fearful. He could see the handwriting on the wall.
16 But all Israel and Judah loved David; for it was he who marched out and came in leading them.
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But everyone else in Israel and Judah loved David. They loved watching him in action.
17 Then Saul said to David, "Here is my elder daughter Merab; I will give her to you as a wife; only be valiant for me and fight the Lord's battles." For Saul thought, "I will not raise a hand against him; let the Philistines deal with him."
17
One day Saul said to David, "Here is Merab, my eldest daughter. I want to give her to you as your wife. Be brave and bold for my sake. Fight God's battles!" But all the time Saul was thinking, "The Philistines will kill him for me. I won't have to lift a hand against him."
18 David said to Saul, "Who am I and who are my kinsfolk, my father's family in Israel, that I should be son-in-law to the king?"
18
David, embarrassed, answered, "Do you really mean that? I'm from a family of nobodies! I can't be son-in-law to the king."
19 But at the time when Saul's daughter Merab should have been given to David, she was given to Adriel the Meholathite as a wife.
19
The wedding day was set, but as the time neared for Merab and David to be married, Saul reneged and married his daughter off to Adriel the Meholathite.
20 Now Saul's daughter Michal loved David. Saul was told, and the thing pleased him.
20
Meanwhile, Saul's daughter Michal was in love with David. When Saul was told of this, he rubbed his hands in anticipation. "Ah, a second chance. I'll use Michal as bait to get David out where the Philistines will make short work of him." So again he said to David, "You're going to be my son-in-law."
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, "You shall now be my son-in-law."
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22 Saul commanded his servants, "Speak to David in private and say, "See, the king is delighted with you, and all his servants love you; now then, become the king's son-in-law.' "
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Saul ordered his servants, "Get David off by himself and tell him, 'The king is very taken with you, and everyone at court loves you. Go ahead, become the king's son-in-law!'"
23 So Saul's servants reported these words to David in private. And David said, "Does it seem to you a little thing to become the king's son-in-law, seeing that I am a poor man and of no repute?"
23
The king's servants told all this to David, but David held back. "What are you thinking of? I can't do that. I'm a nobody; I have nothing to offer."
24 The servants of Saul told him, "This is what David said."
24
When the servants reported David's response to Saul, he told them to tell David this: "The king isn't expecting any money from you; only this: Go kill a hundred Philistines and bring evidence of your vengeance on the king's behalf. Avenge the king on his enemies." (Saul expected David to be killed in action.)
25 Then Saul said, "Thus shall you say to David, "The king desires no marriage present except a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, that he may be avenged on the king's enemies.' " Now Saul planned to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.
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26 When his servants told David these words, David was well pleased to be the king's son-in-law. Before the time had expired,
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On receiving this message, David was pleased. There was something he could do for the king that would qualify him to be his son-in-law! He lost no time but went right out, he and his men, killed the hundred Philistines, brought their evidence back in a sack, and counted it out before the king - mission completed! Saul gave Michal his daughter to David in marriage.
27 David rose and went, along with his men, and killed one 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. Saul gave him his daughter Michal as a wife.
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28 But when Saul realized that the Lord was with David, and that Saul's daughter Michal loved him,
28
As Saul more and more realized that God was with David, and how much his own daughter, Michal, loved him, his fear of David increased and settled into hate. Saul hated David.
29 Saul was still more afraid of David. So Saul was David's enemy from that time forward.
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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 fame became very great.
30
Whenever the Philistine warlords came out to battle, David was there to meet them - and beat them, upstaging Saul's men. David's name was on everyone's lips.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.