Young's Literal Translation YLT
Holman Christian Standard Bible CSB
1 And it cometh to pass, when he finisheth to speak unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan hath been bound to the soul of David, and Jonathan loveth him as his own soul.
1
When David had finished speaking with Saul, Jonathan committed himself to David, and loved him as much as he loved himself.
2 And Saul taketh him on that day, and hath not permitted him to turn back to the house of his father.
2
Saul kept David with him from that day on and did not let him return to his father's house.
3 And Jonathan maketh -- also David -- a covenant, because he loveth him as his own soul,
3
Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as much as himself.
4 and Jonathan strippeth himself of the upper robe which [is] upon him, and giveth it to David, and his long robe, even unto his sword, and unto his bow, and unto his girdle.
4
Then Jonathan removed the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his military tunic, his sword, his bow, and his belt.
5 And David goeth out whithersoever Saul doth send him; he acted wisely, and Saul setteth him over the men of war, and it is good in the eyes of all the people, and also in the eyes of the servants of Saul.
5
David marched out [with the army], and was successful in everything Saul sent him to do. Saul put him in command of the soldiers, which pleased all the people and Saul's servants as well.
6 And it cometh to pass, in their coming in, in David's returning from smiting the Philistine, that the women come out from all the cities of Israel to sing -- also the dancers -- to meet Saul the king, with tabrets, with joy, and with three-stringed instruments;
6
As David was returning from killing the Philistine, the women came out from all the cities of Israel to meet King Saul, singing and dancing with tambourines, with shouts of joy, and with three-stringed instruments.
7 and the women answer -- those playing, and say, `Saul hath smitten among his thousands, And David among his myriads.'
7
As they celebrated, the women sang: Saul has killed his thousands, but David his tens of thousands.
8 And it is displeasing to Saul exceedingly, and this thing is evil in his eyes, and he saith, `They have given to David myriads, and to me they have given the thousands, and more to him [is] only the kingdom;'
8
Saul was furious and resented this song. "They credited tens of thousands to David," he complained, "but they only credited me with thousands. What more can he have but the kingdom?"
9 and Saul is eyeing David from that day and thenceforth.
9
So Saul watched David jealously from that day forward.
10 And it cometh to pass, on the morrow, that the spirit of sadness [from] God prospereth over Saul, and he prophesieth in the midst of the house, and David is playing with his hand, as day by day, and the javelin [is] in the hand of Saul,
10
The next day an evil spirit from God took control of Saul, and he began to rave inside the palace. David was playing [the harp] as usual, but Saul was holding a spear,
11 and Saul casteth the javelin, and saith, `I smite through David, even through the wall;' and David turneth round out of his presence twice.
11
and he threw it, thinking, "I'll pin David to the wall." But David got away from him twice.
12 And Saul is afraid of the presence of David, for Jehovah hath been with him, and from Saul He hath turned aside;
12
Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with David but had left from Saul.
13 and Saul turneth him aside from him, and appointeth him to himself head of a thousand, and he goeth out an cometh in, before the people.
13
Therefore, Saul reassigned David and made him commander over 1,000 men. David led the troops
14 And David is in all his ways acting wisely, and Jehovah [is] with him,
14
and continued to be successful in all his activities because the Lord was with him.
15 and Saul seeth that he is acting very wisely, and is afraid of him,
15
When Saul observed that David was very successful, he dreaded him.
16 and all Israel and Judah love David when he is going out and coming in before them.
16
But all Israel and Judah loved David because he was leading their troops.
17 And Saul saith unto David, `Lo, my elder daughter Merab -- her I give to thee for a wife; only, be to me for a son of valour, and fight the battles of Jehovah;' and Saul said, `Let not my hand be on him, but let the hand of the Philistines be upon him.'
17
Saul told David, "Here is my oldest daughter Merab. I'll give her to you as a wife, if you will be a warrior for me and fight the Lord's battles." But Saul was thinking, "My hand doesn't need to be against him; let the hand of the Philistines be against him."
18 And David saith unto Saul, `Who [am] I? and what my life -- the family of my father in Israel -- that I am son-in-law to the king?'
18
Then David responded, "Who am I, and what is my family or my father's clan in Israel that I should become the king's son-in-law?"
19 And it cometh to pass, at the time of the giving of Merab daughter of Saul to David, that she hath been given to Adriel the Meholathite for a wife.
19
When it was time to give Saul's daughter Merab to David, she was given to Adriel the Meholathite as a wife.
20 And Michal daughter of Saul loveth David, and they declare to Saul, and the thing is right in his eyes,
20
Now Saul's daughter Michal loved David, and when it was reported to Saul, it pleased him.
21 and Saul saith, `I give her to him, and she is to him for a snare, and the hand of the Philistines is on him;' and Saul saith unto David, `By the second -- thou dost become my son-in-law to-day.'
21
"I'll give her to him," Saul thought. "She'll be a trap for him, and the hand of the Philistines will be against him." So Saul said to David a second time, "You can now be my son-in-law."
22 And Saul commandeth his servants, `Speak unto David gently, saying, Lo, the king hath delighted in thee, and all his servants have loved thee, and now, be son-in-law to the king.'
22
Saul then ordered his servants, "Speak to David in private and tell him, 'Look, the king is pleased with you, and all his servants love you. Therefore, you should become the king's son-in-law.' "
23 And the servants of Saul speak in the ears of David these words, and David saith, `Is it a light thing in your eyes to be son-in-law to the king -- and I a poor man, and lightly esteemed?'
23
Saul's servants reported these words directly to David, but he replied, "Is it trivial in your sight to become the king's son-in-law? I am a poor man who is common."
24 And the servants of Saul declare to him, saying, `According to these words hath David spoken.'
24
The servants reported back to Saul, "These are the words David spoke."
25 And Saul saith, `Thus do ye say to David, There is no delight to the king in dowry, but in a hundred foreskins of the Philistines -- to be avenged on the enemies of the king;' and Saul thought to cause David to fall by the hand of the Philistines.
25
Then Saul replied, "Say this to David: 'The king desires no other bride-price except 100 Philistine foreskins, to take revenge on his enemies.' " Actually, Saul intended to cause David's death at the hands of the Philistines.
26 And his servants declare to David these words, and the thing is right in the eyes of David, to be son-in-law to the king; and the days have not been full,
26
When the servants reported these terms to David, he was pleased to become the king's son-in-law. Before the wedding day arrived,
27 and David riseth and goeth, he and his men, and smiteth among the Philistines two hundred men, and David bringeth in their foreskins, and they set them before the king, to be son-in-law to the king; and Saul giveth to him Michal his daughter for a wife.
27
David and his men went out and killed 200 Philistines. He brought their foreskins and presented them as full payment to the king to become his son-in-law. Then Saul gave his daughter Michal to David as his wife.
28 And Saul seeth and knoweth that Jehovah [is] with David, and Michal daughter of Saul hath loved him,
28
Saul realized that the Lord was with David and that his daughter Michal loved him,
29 and Saul addeth to be afraid of the presence of David yet; and Saul is an enemy with David all the days.
29
and he became even more afraid of David. As a result, Saul was David's enemy from then on.
30 And the princes of the Philistines come out, and it cometh to pass from the time of their coming out, David hath acted more wisely than any of the servants of Saul, and his name is very precious.
30
Every time the Philistine commanders came out to fight, David was more successful than all of Saul's officers. So his name became very famous.
Young's Literal Translation is in the public domain.
Holman Christian Standard Bible ® Copyright © 2003, 2002, 2000, 1999 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.