Parallel Bible results for "1 samuel 20"

1 Samuel 20

The Message Bible MSG

1 David got out of Naioth in Ramah alive and went to Jonathan. "What do I do now? What wrong have I inflicted on your father that makes him so determined to kill me?"

2 "Nothing," said Jonathan. "You've done nothing wrong. And you're not going to die. Really, you're not! My father tells me everything. He does nothing, whether big or little, without confiding in me. So why would he do this behind my back? It can't be."

3 But David said, "Your father knows that we are the best of friends. So he says to himself, 'Jonathan must know nothing of this. If he does, he'll side with David.' But it's true - as sure as God lives, and as sure as you're alive before me right now - he's determined to kill me."

4 Jonathan said, "Tell me what you have in mind. I'll do anything for you."

5 David said, "Tomorrow marks the New Moon. I'm scheduled to eat dinner with the king. Instead, I'll go hide in the field until the evening of the third.

6 If your father misses me, say, 'David asked if he could run down to Bethlehem, his hometown, for an anniversary reunion, and worship with his family.'

7 If he says, 'Good!' then I'm safe. But if he gets angry, you'll know for sure that he's made up his mind to kill me.

8 Oh, stick with me in this. You've entered into a covenant of God with me, remember! If I'm in the wrong, go ahead and kill me yourself. Why bother giving me up to your father?"

9 "Never!" exclaimed Jonathan. "I'd never do that! If I get the slightest hint that my father is fixated on killing you, I'll tell you."

10 David asked, "And whom will you get to tell me if your father comes back with a harsh answer?"

11 "Come outside," said Jonathan. "Let's go to the field." When the two of them were out in the field,

12 Jonathan said, "As God, the God of Israel, is my witness, by this time tomorrow I'll get it out of my father how he feels about you. Then I'll let you know what I learn.

13 May God do his worst to me if I let you down! If my father still intends to kill you, I'll tell you and get you out of here in one piece. And God be with you as he's been with my father!

14 If I make it through this alive, continue to be my covenant friend. And if I die,

15 keep the covenant friendship with my family - forever. And when God finally rids the earth of David's enemies, stay loyal to Jonathan!"

16

17 Jonathan repeated his pledge of love and friendship for David. He loved David more than his own soul!

18 Jonathan then laid out his plan: "Tomorrow is the New Moon, and you'll be missed when you don't show up for dinner.

19 On the third day, when they've quit expecting you, come to the place where you hid before, and wait beside that big boulder.

20 I'll shoot three arrows in the direction of the boulder.

21 Then I'll send off my servant, 'Go find the arrows.' If I yell after the servant, 'The arrows are on this side! Retrieve them!' that's the signal that you can return safely - as God lives, not a thing to fear!

22 But if I yell, 'The arrows are farther out!' then run for it - God wants you out of here!

23 Regarding all the things we've discussed, remember that God's in on this with us to the very end!"

24 David hid in the field. On the holiday of the New Moon, the king came to the table to eat.

25 He sat where he always sat, the place against the wall, with Jonathan across the table and Abner at Saul's side. But David's seat was empty.

26 Saul didn't mention it at the time, thinking, "Something's happened that's made him unclean. That's it - he's probably unclean for the holy meal."

27 But the day after the New Moon, day two of the holiday, David's seat was still empty. Saul asked Jonathan his son, "So where's that son of Jesse? He hasn't eaten with us either yesterday or today."

28 Jonathan said, "David asked my special permission to go to Bethlehem.

29 He said, 'Give me leave to attend a family reunion back home. My brothers have ordered me to be there. If it seems all right to you, let me go and see my brothers.' That's why he's not here at the king's table."

30 Saul exploded in anger at Jonathan: "You son of a slut! Don't you think I know that you're in cahoots with the son of Jesse, disgracing both you and your mother?

31 For as long as the son of Jesse is walking around free on this earth, your future in this kingdom is at risk. Now go get him. Bring him here. From this moment, he's as good as dead!"

32 Jonathan stood up to his father. "Why dead? What's he done?"

33 Saul threw his spear at him to kill him. That convinced Jonathan that his father was fixated on killing David.

34 Jonathan stormed from the table, furiously angry, and ate nothing the rest of the day, upset for David and smarting under the humiliation from his father.

35 In the morning, Jonathan went to the field for the appointment with David. He had his young servant with him.

36 He told the servant, "Run and get the arrows I'm about to shoot." The boy started running and Jonathan shot an arrow way beyond him.

37 As the boy came to the area where the arrow had been shot, Jonathan yelled out, "Isn't the arrow farther out?"

38 He yelled again, "Hurry! Quickly! Don't just stand there!" Jonathan's servant then picked up the arrow and brought it to his master.

39 The boy, of course, knew nothing of what was going on. Only Jonathan and David knew.

40 Jonathan gave his quiver and bow to the boy and sent him back to town.

41 After the servant was gone, David got up from his hiding place beside the boulder, then fell on his face to the ground - three times prostrating himself! And then they kissed one another and wept, friend over friend, David weeping especially hard.

42 Jonathan said, "Go in peace! The two of us have vowed friendship in God's name, saying, 'God will be the bond between me and you, and between my children and your children forever!'"

New Century Version NCV

1 Then David ran away from Naioth in Ramah. He went to Jonathan and asked, "What have I done? What is my crime? How did I sin against your father? Why is he trying to kill me?"

2 Jonathan answered, "No! You won't die! See, my father doesn't do anything great or small without first telling me. Why would he keep this from me? It's not true!"

3 But David took an oath, saying, "Your father knows very well that you like me. He says to himself, 'Jonathan must not know about it, or he will tell David.' As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I am only a step away from death!"

4 Jonathan said to David, "I'll do anything you want me to do."

5 So David said, "Look, tomorrow is the New Moon festival. I am supposed to eat with the king, but let me hide in the field until the third evening.

6 If your father notices I am gone, tell him, 'David begged me to let him go to his hometown of Bethlehem. Every year at this time his family group offers a sacrifice.'

7 If your father says, 'Fine,' I am safe. But if he becomes angry, you will know that he wants to hurt me.

8 Jonathan, be loyal to me, your servant. You have made an agreement with me before the Lord. If I am guilty, you may kill me yourself! Why hand me over to your father?"

9 Jonathan answered, "No, never! If I learn that my father plans to hurt you, I will warn you!"

10 David asked, "Who will let me know if your father answers you unkindly?"

11 Then Jonathan said, "Come, let's go out into the field." So the two of them went out into the field.

12 Jonathan said to David, "I promise this before the Lord, the God of Israel: At this same time the day after tomorrow, I will find out how my father feels. If he feels good toward you, I will send word to you and let you know.

13 But if my father plans to hurt you, I will let you know and send you away safely. May the Lord punish me terribly if I don't do this. And may the Lord be with you as he has been with my father.

14 But show me the kindness of the Lord as long as I live so that I may not die.

15 You must never stop showing your kindness to my family, even when the Lord has destroyed all your enemies from the earth."

16 So Jonathan made an agreement with David. He said, "May the Lord hold David's enemies responsible."

17 And Jonathan asked David to repeat his promise of love for him, because he loved David as much as he loved himself.

18 Jonathan said to David, "Tomorrow is the New Moon festival. Your seat will be empty, so my father will miss you.

19 On the third day go to the place where you hid when this trouble began. Wait by the rock Ezel.

20 On the third day I will shoot three arrows to the side of the rock as if I am shooting at a target.

21 Then I will send a boy to find the arrows. If I say to him, 'The arrows are near you; bring them here,' you may come out of hiding. You are safe. As the Lord lives, there is no danger.

22 But if I say to the boy, 'Look, the arrows are beyond you,' you must go, because the Lord is sending you away.

23 Remember what we talked about. The Lord is a witness between you and me forever."

24 So David hid in the field. When the New Moon festival came, the king sat down to eat.

25 He sat where he always sat, near the wall. Jonathan sat across from him, and Abner sat next to Saul, but David's place was empty.

26 That day Saul said nothing. He thought, "Maybe something has happened to David so that he is unclean."

27 But the next day was the second day of the month, and David's place was still empty. So Saul said to Jonathan, "Why hasn't the son of Jesse come to the feast yesterday or today?"

28 Jonathan answered, "David begged me to let him go to Bethlehem.

29 He said, 'Let me go, because our family has a sacrifice in the town, and my brother has ordered me to be there. Now if I am your friend, please let me go to see my brothers.' That is why he has not come to the king's table."

30 Then Saul became very angry with Jonathan. He said, "You son of a wicked, worthless woman! I know you are on the side of David son of Jesse! You bring shame on yourself and on your mother who gave birth to you.

31 As long as Jesse's son lives, you will never be king or have a kingdom. Now send for David and bring him to me. He must die!"

32 Jonathan asked his father, "Why should David be killed? What wrong has he done?"

33 Then Saul threw his spear at Jonathan, trying to kill him. So Jonathan knew that his father really wanted to kill David.

34 Jonathan was very angry and left the table. That second day of the month he refused to eat. He was ashamed of his father and upset over David.

35 The next morning Jonathan went out to the field to meet David as they had agreed. He had a young boy with him.

36 Jonathan said to the boy, "Run and find the arrows I shoot." When he ran, Jonathan shot an arrow beyond him.

37 The boy ran to the place where Jonathan's arrow fell, but Jonathan called, "The arrow is beyond you!"

38 Then he shouted, "Hurry! Go quickly! Don't stop!" The boy picked up the arrow and brought it back to his master.

39 (The boy knew nothing about what this meant; only Jonathan and David knew.)

40 Then Jonathan gave his weapons to the boy and told him, "Go back to town."

41 When the boy left, David came out from the south side of the rock. He bowed facedown on the ground before Jonathan three times. Then David and Jonathan kissed each other and cried together, but David cried the most.

42 Jonathan said to David, "Go in peace. We have promised by the Lord that we will be friends. We said, 'The Lord will be a witness between you and me, and between our descendants always.'" Then David left, and Jonathan went back to town.