1 Samuel 20:5-15

5 David said to Jonathan, "Tomorrow is the new moon, and I should not fail to sit with the king at the meal; but let me go, so that I may hide in the field until the third evening.
6 If your father misses me at all, then say, "David earnestly asked leave of me to run to Bethlehem his city; for there is a yearly sacrifice there for all the family.'
7 If he says, "Good!' it will be well with your servant; but if he is angry, then know that evil has been determined by him.
8 Therefore deal kindly with your servant, for you have brought your servant into a sacred covenant with you. But if there is guilt in me, kill me yourself; why should you bring me to your father?"
9 Jonathan said, "Far be it from you! If I knew that it was decided by my father that evil should come upon you, would I not tell you?"
10 Then David said to Jonathan, "Who will tell me if your father answers you harshly?"
11 Jonathan replied to David, "Come, let us go out into the field." So they both went out into the field.
12 Jonathan said to David, "By the Lord, the God of Israel! When I have sounded out my father, about this time tomorrow, or on the third day, if he is well disposed toward David, shall I not then send and disclose it to you?
13 But if my father intends to do you harm, the Lord do so to Jonathan, and more also, if I do not disclose it to you, and send you away, so that you may go in safety. May the Lord be with you, as he has been with my father.
14 If I am still alive, show me the faithful love of the Lord; but if I die,
15 never cut off your faithful love from my house, even if the Lord were to cut off every one of the enemies of David from the face of the earth."

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. Heb [a covenant of the Lord]
  • [b]. Meaning of Heb uncertain
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.