1 Samuel 20

1And David went in flight from Naioth in Ramah and came to Jonathan and said, What have I done? What is my crime and my sin against your father that he is attempting to take my life?

1And David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and came and said before Jonathan, What have I done? what is mine iniquity? and what is my sin before thy father, that he seeketh my life?

1And David fled from Naioth by Ramah, and came and said before Jonathan, What have I done? what is mine iniquity, and what is my sin before thy father, that he seeks my life?

2And he said to him, Far be the thought: you will not be put to death: see, my father does nothing, great or small, without giving me word of it: would he keep this secret from me? It is not so.

2And he said unto him, Far from it; thou shalt not die: behold, my father doeth nothing either great or small, but that he discloseth it unto me; and why should my father hide this thing from me? it is not so.

2And he said to him,God forbid; thou shalt not die: behold, my father will do nothing either great or small, and not apprise me; and why should my father hide this thing from me? it is not so.

3But David took his oath again and said, Your father sees that I am dear to you; so he says to himself, Let Jonathan have no idea of this, for it will be a grief to him; but as the Lord is living, and as your soul is living, there is only a step between me and death.

3And David sware moreover, and said, Thy father knoweth well that I have found favor in thine eyes; and he saith, Let not Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved: but truly as Jehovah liveth, and as thy soul liveth, there is but a step between me and death.

3And David swore again and again, and said, Thy father certainly knows that I have found favour in thy sight: and he has thought, Jonathan shall not know this, lest he be grieved; but truly [as] Jehovah liveth, and [as] thy soul liveth, there is but a step between me and death.

4Then Jonathan said to David, Whatever your desire is, I will do it for you.

4Then said Jonathan unto David, Whatsoever thy soul desireth, I will even do it for thee.

4And Jonathan said to David, What thy soul may say, I will even do it for thee.

5And David said to Jonathan, Tomorrow is the new moon, and I will not be seated with the king at his table: but let me go to a safe place in the country till the evening.

5And David said unto Jonathan, Behold, to-morrow is the new moon, and I should not fail to sit with the king at meat: but let me go, that I may hide myself in the field unto the third day at even.

5And David said to Jonathan, Behold, to-morrow is new moon, and I should not fail to sit with the king at meat; but let me go, that I may hide myself in the field until the third evening.

6And if your father takes note of the fact that I am away, say, David made a request to me for himself that he might go to Beth-lehem, to his town: for it is the time when his family make their offering year by year.

6If thy father miss me at all, then say, David earnestly asked leave of me that he might run to Beth-lehem his city; for it is the yearly sacrifice there for all the family.

6If thy father should actually miss me, then say, David earnestly asked leave of me that he might run to Bethlehem his city; for there is a yearly sacrifice there for all the family.

7If he says, It is well, your servant will be at peace: but if he is angry, then it will be clear to you that he has an evil purpose in mind against me.

7If he say thus, It is well; thy servant shall have peace: but if he be wroth, then know that evil is determined by him.

7If he say thus, It is well, — thy servant shall have peace; but if he be very wroth, be sure that evil is determined by him.

8So, then, be kind to your servant; for you have been united with your servant in an agreement made before the Lord: but if there is any wrongdoing in me, put me to death yourself; why take me to your father?

8Therefore deal kindly with thy servant; for thou hast brought thy servant into a covenant of Jehovah with thee: but if there be in me iniquity, slay me thyself; for why shouldest thou bring me to thy father?

8Deal kindly then with thy servant; for thou hast brought thy servant into a covenant of Jehovah with thee; but if there be in me iniquity, slay me thyself; for why shouldest thou bring me to thy father?

9And Jonathan said, Do not have such a thought: for if I saw that my father was designing evil against you, would I not give you word of it?

9And Jonathan said, Far be it from thee; for if I should at all know that evil were determined by my father to come upon thee, then would not I tell it thee?

9And Jonathan said, Far be it from thee; for, if I knew with certainty that evil were determined by my father to come upon thee, would I not tell it thee?

10Then David said to Jonathan, Who will give me word if your father gives you a rough answer?

10Then said David to Jonathan, Who shall tell me if perchance thy father answer thee roughly?

10Then said David to Jonathan, Who shall tell me? or what if thy father answer thee roughly?

11And Jonathan said to David, Come, let us go out into the country. And the two of them went out together into the open country.

11And Jonathan said unto David, Come, and let us go out into the field. And they went out both of them into the field.

11And Jonathan said to David, Come and let us go out into the field. And they went out both of them into the field.

12And Jonathan said to David, May the Lord, the God of Israel, be witness; when I have had a chance of talking to my father, about this time tomorrow, if his feelings to David are good, will I not send and give you the news?

12And Jonathan said unto David, Jehovah, the God of Israel, be witness: when I have sounded my father about this time to-morrow, or the third day, behold, if there be good toward David, shall I not then send unto thee, and disclose it unto thee?

12And Jonathan said to David, Jehovah,God of Israel, when I sound my father about this time to-morrow, [or] the next day, and behold, there be good toward David, and I then send not to thee, and apprise thee of it,

13May the Lord's punishment be on Jonathan, if it is my father's pleasure to do you evil and I do not give you word of it and send you away so that you may go in peace: and may the Lord be with you, as he has been with my father.

13Jehovah do so to Jonathan, and more also, should it please my father to do thee evil, if I disclose it not unto thee, and send thee away, that thou mayest go in peace: and Jehovah be with thee, as he hath been with my father.

13Jehovah do so and much more to Jonathan. Should it please my father [to do] thee evil, then I will apprise thee of it, and send thee away, that thou mayest go in peace; and Jehovah be with thee, as he has been with my father.

14And may you, while I am still living, O may you be kind to me, as the Lord is kind, and keep me from death!

14And thou shalt not only while yet I live show me the lovingkindness of Jehovah, that I die not;

14And thou shalt not only while yet I live shew me the kindness of Jehovah, that I die not,

15And let not your mercy ever be cut off from my family, even when the Lord has sent destruction on all David's haters, cutting them off from the face of the earth.

15but also thou shalt not cut off thy kindness from my house for ever; no, not when Jehovah hath cut off the enemies of David every one from the face of the earth.

15but thou shalt not cut off thy kindness from my house for ever, no, not when Jehovah cuts off the enemies of David, every one from the face of the earth.

16And if it comes about that the name of Jonathan is cut off from the family of David, the Lord will make David responsible.

16So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, And Jehovah will require it at the hand of David’s enemies.

16And Jonathan made [a covenant] with the house of David, [saying,] Let Jehovah even require [it] at the hand of David's enemies!

17And Jonathan again took an oath to David, because of his love for him: for David was as dear to him as his very soul.

17And Jonathan caused David to swear again, for the love that he had to him; for he loved him as he loved his own soul.

17And Jonathan caused David to swear again, by the love he had for him, for he loved him as he loved his own soul.

18Then Jonathan said to him, Tomorrow is the new moon: and it will be seen that you are not present, for there will be no one in your seat.

18Then Jonathan said unto him, To-morrow is the new moon: and thou wilt be missed, because thy seat will be empty.

18And Jonathan said to him, To-morrow is the new moon; and thou wilt be missed, for thy seat will be empty;

19And on the third day it will be specially noted, and you will go to the place where you took cover when the other business was in hand, waiting by the hill over there.

19And when thou hast stayed three days, thou shalt go down quickly, and come to the place where thou didst hide thyself when the business was in hand, and shalt remain by the stone Ezel.

19but on the third day thou shalt go down quickly, and come to the place where thou didst hide thyself on the day of the business, and abide by the stone Ezel.

20And on the third day I will send arrows from my bow against its side as if at a mark.

20And I will shoot three arrows on the side thereof, as though I shot at a mark.

20And I will shoot three arrows on the side of it, as though I shot at a mark.

21And I will send my boy to have a look for the arrow. And if I say to him, See, the arrow is on this side of you; take it up! then you may come; for there is peace for you and no evil, by the living Lord.

21And, behold, I will send the lad, saying, Go, find the arrows. If I say unto the lad, Behold, the arrows are on this side of thee; take them, and come; for there is peace to thee and no hurt, as Jehovah liveth.

21And behold, I will send the lad, [saying,] Go, find the arrows. If I expressly say to the lad, Behold, the arrows are on this side of thee, take them; then come, for there is peace for thee, and it is nothing; [as] Jehovah liveth.

22But if I say to the boy, See, the arrow has gone past you: then go on your way, for the Lord has sent you away.

22But if I say thus unto the boy, Behold, the arrows are beyond thee; go thy way; for Jehovah hath sent thee away.

22But if I say thus to the youth: Behold, the arrows are beyond thee, — go thy way; for Jehovah sends thee away.

23As for what you and I were talking of, the Lord is between you and me for ever.

23And as touching the matter which thou and I have spoken of, behold, Jehovah is between thee and me for ever.

23And as to the matter which thou and I have spoken of, behold, Jehovah is between me and thee for ever.

24So David went to a secret place in the country: and when the new moon came, the king took his place at the feast.

24So David hid himself in the field: and when the new moon was come, the king sat him down to eat food.

24And David hid himself in the field; and it was the new moon, and the king sat at table to eat.

25And the king took his seat, as at other times, by the wall: and Jonathan was in front, and Abner was seated by Saul's side, but there was no one in David's seat.

25And the king sat upon his seat, as at other times, even upon the seat by the wall; and Jonathan stood up, and Abner sat by Saul’s side: but David’s place was empty.

25And the king sat on his seat, as at other times, on the seat by the wall; and Jonathan arose, and Abner sat by Saul's side, and David's place was empty.

26But Saul said nothing that day, for his thought was, Something has taken place making him unclean; it is clear that he is not clean.

26Nevertheless Saul spake not anything that day: for he thought, Something hath befallen him, he is not clean; surely he is not clean.

26And Saul said nothing that day; for he thought, Something has befallen [him], that he is not clean: surely he is not clean.

27And on the day after the new moon, that is, the second day, there was still no one in David's seat: and Saul said to his son Jonathan, Why has the son of Jesse not come to the feast yesterday or today?

27And it came to pass on the morrow after the new moon, which was the second day, that David’s place was empty: and Saul said unto Jonathan his son, Wherefore cometh not the son of Jesse to meat, neither yesterday, nor to-day?

27And it came to pass the next day after the new moon, the second [day of the month], as David's place was empty, that Saul said to Jonathan his son, Why has not the son of Jesse come to table, neither yesterday nor to-day?

28And answering Saul, Jonathan said, He made a request to me that he might go to Beth-lehem,

28And Jonathan answered Saul, David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Beth-lehem:

28And Jonathan answered Saul, David earnestly asked leave of me [to go] to Bethlehem,

29Saying, Our family is making an offering in the town, and my brothers have given me orders to be there: so now, if I have grace in your eyes, let me go away and see my brothers. This is why he has not come to the king's table.

29and he said, Let me go, I pray thee; for our family hath a sacrifice in the city; and my brother, he hath commanded me to be there: and now, if I have found favor in thine eyes, let me get away, I pray thee, and see my brethren. Therefore he is not come unto the king’s table.

29and said, Let me go, I pray thee; for we have a family sacrifice in the city; and my brother himself has commanded me [to be there]; and now, if I have found favour in thy sight, let me go away, I pray thee, and see my brethren. He has therefore not come to the king's table.

30Then Saul was moved to wrath against Jonathan, and he said to him, You son of an evil and uncontrolled woman, have I not seen how you have given your love to the son of Jesse, to your shame and the shame of your mother?

30Then Saul’s anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said unto him, Thou son of a perverse rebellious woman, do not I know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine own shame, and unto the shame of thy mother’s nakedness?

30And Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said to him, Son of the perverse rebellious woman, do not I know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine own shame and to the shame of thy mother's nakedness?

31For while the son of Jesse is living on the earth, your position is unsafe and your kingdom is in danger. So make him come here to me, for it is certainly right for him to be put to death.

31For as long as the son of Jesse liveth upon the ground, thou shalt not be established, nor thy kingdom. Wherefore now send and fetch him unto me, for he shall surely die.

31For as long as the son of Jesse lives upon earth, thou shalt not be established, nor thy kingdom. And now send and fetch him to me, for he must die.

32And Jonathan, answering his father Saul, said to him, Why is he to be put to death? What has he done?

32And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said unto him, Wherefore should he be put to death? what hath he done?

32And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said to him, Why should he be put to death? what has he done?

33And Saul, pointing his spear at him, made an attempt to give him a wound: from which it was clear to Jonathan that his father's purpose was to put David to death.

33And Saul cast his spear at him to smite him; whereby Jonathan knew that it was determined of his father to put David to death.

33Then Saul cast the spear at him to smite him; and Jonathan knew that it was determined by his father to put David to death.

34So Jonathan got up from the table, burning with wrath, and took no part in the feast the second day of the month, being full of grief for David because his father had put shame on him.

34So Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger, and did eat no food the second day of the month; for he was grieved for David, because his father had done him shame.

34And Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger, and ate no meat the second day of the new moon; for he was grieved for David, because his father had done him shame.

35Now in the morning, Jonathan went out into the fields at the time he had said to David, and he had a little boy with him.

35And it came to pass in the morning, that Jonathan went out into the field at the time appointed with David, and a little lad with him.

35And it came to pass in the morning that Jonathan went out into the field, to the place agreed on with David, and a little lad with him.

36And he said to the boy, Go and get the arrow I let loose from my bow. And while the boy was running, he sent an arrow past him.

36And he said unto his lad, Run, find now the arrows which I shoot. And as the lad ran, he shot an arrow beyond him.

36And he said to his lad, Run, find now the arrows which I shoot. The lad ran, and he shot the arrow beyond him.

37And when the boy came to the place where the arrow was, Jonathan, crying out after the boy, said, Has it not gone past you?

37And when the lad was come to the place of the arrow which Jonathan had shot, Jonathan cried after the lad, and said, Is not the arrow beyond thee?

37And when the lad came to the place of the arrow which Jonathan had shot, Jonathan cried after the lad and said, Is not the arrow away beyond thee?

38And Jonathan went on crying out after the boy, Be quick, do not keep waiting about, go quickly. And Jonathan's boy got the arrow and came back to his master.

38And Jonathan cried after the lad, Make speed, haste, stay not. And Jonathan’s lad gathered up the arrows, and came to his master.

38And Jonathan cried after the lad, Make speed, haste, stay not! And Jonathan's lad gathered up the arrows, and came to his master.

39But the boy had no idea what was going on; only Jonathan and David had knowledge of it.

39But the lad knew not anything: only Jonathan and David knew the matter.

39And the lad knew nothing: only Jonathan and David knew the matter.

40And Jonathan gave his bow and arrows to the boy, and said to him, Take these and go back to the town.

40And Jonathan gave his weapons unto his lad, and said unto him, Go, carry them to the city.

40And Jonathan gave his weapons to his lad, and said to him, Go, carry them to the city.

41And when the boy had gone, David came from his secret place by the hill, and falling to the earth went down on his face three times: and they gave one another a kiss, weeping together, till David's grief was the greater.

41And as soon as the lad was gone, David arose out of a place toward the South, and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times: and they kissed one another, and wept one with another, until David exceeded.

41The lad went, and David arose from the side of the south, and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times; and they kissed one another, and wept one with another, until David exceeded.

42And Jonathan said to David, Go in peace, for we two have taken an oath, in the name of the Lord, saying, The Lord will be between me and you, and between my seed and your seed for ever. Then David went away, and Jonathan went into the town.

42And Jonathan said to David, Go in peace, forasmuch as we have sworn both of us in the name of Jehovah, saying, Jehovah shall be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed, for ever. And he arose and departed: and Jonathan went into the city.

42And Jonathan said to David, Go in peace, forasmuch as we have both of us sworn in the name of Jehovah, saying, Jehovah be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever! And he arose and departed; and Jonathan went into the city.