Bible in a Year.

On day 111, we witness the growing friendship and tension between David and Saul. 1 Samuel 18-19 recounts David's recognition, Saul's jealousy, and the intrigues that arise, while Psalm 59 reminds us of God's constant protection and refuge in times of danger.

Chapter 18

1. And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.

2. And Saul took him that day, and would not let him return to his father's house.

3. And David and Jonathan made a covenant, for be loved him as his own soul.

4. And Jonathan stripped himself of the coat with which he was clothed, and gave it to David, and the rest of his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.

5. And David went out to whatsoever business Saul sent him, and he behaved himself prudently: and Saul set him over the soldiers, and he was acceptable in the eyes of all the people, and especially in the eyes of Saul's servants.

6. Now when David returned, after be slew the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with timbrels of joy, and cornets.

7. And the women sung as they played, and they said: I Saul slew his thousands, and David his ten thousands.

8. And Saul was exceeding angry, and this word was displeasing in his eyes, and he said: They have given David ten thousands, and to me they have given but a thousand; what can he have more but the kingdom?

9. And Saul did not look on David with a good eye from that day and forward.

10. And the day after the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of his house. And David played with his hand as at other times. And Saul held a spear in his hand,

11. And threw it, thinking to nail David to the wall: and David stept aside out of his presence twice.

12. And Saul feared David, because the Lord was with him, and was departed from himself.

13. Therefore Saul removed him from him, and made him a captain over a thousand men, and he went out and came in before the people.

14. And David behaved wisely in all his ways, and the Lord was with him.

15. And Saul saw that he was exceeding prudent, and began to beware of him.

16. But all Israel and Juda loved David, for he came in and went out before them.

17. And Saul said to David: Behold my elder daughter Merob, her will I give thee to wife: only be a valiant man, and fight the battles of the Lord. Now Saul said within himself: Let not my hand be upon him, but let the hands of the Philistines be upon him.

18. And David said to Saul: Who am I, or what is my life, or my father's family in Israel, that I should be son in law of the king?

19. And it came to pass at the time when Merob the daughter of Saul should have been given to David, that she was given to Hadriel the Molathite to wife.

20. But Michol the other daughter of Saul loved David. And it was told Saul, and it pleased him.

21. And Saul said: I will give her to him, that she may be a stumblingblock to him, and that the band of the Philistines may be upon him. And Saul said to David: In two things thou shalt be my son in law this day.

22. And Saul commanded his servants to speak to David privately, saying: Behold thou pleasest the king, and all his servants love thee. Now therefore be the king's son in law.

23. And the servants of Saul spoke all these words in the ears of David. And David said: Doth it seem to you a small matter to be the king's son in law? But I am a poor man, and of small ability.

24. And the servants of Saul told him, saying: Such words as these hath David spoken.

25. And Saul said: Speak thus to David: The king desireth not any dowry, but only a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king's enemies. Now Saul thought to deliver David into the hands of the Philistines.

26. And when his servants had told David the words that Saul had said, the word was pleasing in the eyes of David to be the king's son in law.

27. And after a few days David rose up, and went with the men that were under him, and he slew of the Philistines two hundred men, and brought their foreskins and numbered them out to the king, that he might be his son in law. Saul therefore gave him Michol his daughter to wife.

28. And Saul saw, and understood that the Lord was with David. And Michol the daughter of Saul loved him.

29. And Saul began to fear David more: and Saul became David's enemy continually.

30. And the princes of the Philistines went forth: and from the beginning of their going forth, David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul, and his name became very famous.

Chapter 19

1. And Saul spoke to Jonathan his son and to all his servants, that they should kill David. But Jonathan the son of Saul loved David exceedingly.

2. And Jonathan told David, saying: Saul my father seeketh to kill thee: wherefore look to thyself, I beseech thee, in the morning, and thou shalt abide in a secret place and shalt be hid.

3. And I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where thou art: and I will speak of thee to my father, and whatsoever I shall see, I will tell thee.

4. And Jonathan spoke good things of David to Saul his father: and said to him: Sin not, O king, against thy servant, David, because he hath not sinned against thee, and his works are very good towards thee.

5. And he put his life in his hand, and slew the Philistine, and the Lord wrought great salvation for all Israel. Thou sawest it and didst rejoice. Why therefore wilt thou sin against innocent blood by killing David, who is without fault?

6. And when Saul heard this he was appeased with the words of Jonathan, and swore: As the Lord liveth he shall not be slain.

7. Then Jonathan called David and told him all these words: and Jonathan brought in David to Saul, and he was before him, as he had been yesterday and the day before.

8. And the war began again, and David went out and fought against the Philistines, and defeated them with a great slaughter, and they fled from his face.

9. And the evil spirit from the Lord came upon Saul, and he sat in his house, and held a spear in his hand: and David played with his hand.

10. And Saul endeavoured to nail David to the wall with his spear. And David slipt away out of the presence of Saul: and the spear missed him, and was fastened in the wall, and David fled and escaped that night.

11. Saul therefore sent his guards to David's house to watch him, that he might be killed in the morning. And when Michol David's wife had told him this, saying: Unless thou save thyself this night, to morrow thou wilt die,

12. She let him down through a window. And he went and fled away and escaped.

13. And Michol took an image and laid it on the bed, and put a goat's skin with the hair at the head of it, and covered it with clothes.

14. And Saul sent officers to seize David: and it was answered that he was sick.

15. And again Saul sent to see David, saying: Bring him to me in the bed, that he may be slain.

16. And when the messengers were come in, they found an image upon the bed, and a goat's skin at its head.

17. And Saul said to Michol: Why hast thou deceived me so, and let my enemy go and flee away? And Michol answered Saul: Because he said to me: Let me go, or else I will kill thee.

18. But David fled and escaped, and came to Samuel in Ramatha, and told him all that Saul had done to him: and he and Samuel went and dwelt in Najoth.

19. And it was told Saul by some, saying: Behold David is in Najoth in Ramatha.

20. So Saul sent officers to take David: and when they saw a company of prophets prophesying, and Samuel presiding over them, the spirit of the Lord came also upon them, and they likewise began to prophesy.

21. And when this was told Saul, he sent other messengers: but they also prophesied. And again Saul sent messengers the third time: and they prophesied also. And Saul being exceedingly angry,

22. Went also himself to Ramatha, and came as far as the great cistern, which is in Socho, and he asked, and said: In what place are Samuel and David? And it was told him: Behold they axe in Najoth in Ramatha.

23. And he went to Najoth in Ramatha, and the spirit of the Lord came upon him also, and he went on, and prophesied till he came to Najoth in Ramatha.

24. And he stripped himself also of his garments, and prophesied with the rest before Samuel, and lay down naked all that day and night. This gave occasion to a proverb: What! is Saul too among the prophets?

1. Unto the end, destroy not, for David for an inscription of It title, when Saul sent and watched his house to kill him.

2. Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; and defend me from them that rise up against me.

3. Deliver me from them that work iniquity, and save me from bloody men.

4. For behold they have caught my soul: the mighty have rushed in upon me:

5. Neither is it my iniquity, nor my sin, O Lord: without iniquity have I run, and directed my steps.

6. Rise up thou to meet me, and behold: even thou, O Lord, the God of hosts, the God of Israel. Attend to visit all the nations: have no mercy on all them that work iniquity.

7. They shall return at evening, and shall suffer hunger like dogs: and shall go round about the city.

8. Behold they shall speak with their mouth, and a sword is in their lips: for who, say they, hath heard us ?

9. But thou, O Lord, shalt laugh at them: thou shalt bring all the nations to nothing.

10. I will keep my strength to thee: for thou art my protector:

11. my God, his mercy shall prevent me.

12. God shall let me see over my enemies: slay them not, lest at any time my people forget. Scatter them by thy power; and bring them down, O Lord, my protector:

13. For the sin of their mouth, and the word of their lips: and let them be taken in their pride. And for their cursing and lying they shall be talked of,

14. when they are consumed: when they are consumed by thy wrath, and they shall be no more. And they shall know that God will rule Jacob, and all the ends of the earth.

15. They shall return at evening and shall suffer hunger like dogs: and shall go round about the city.

16. They shall be scattered abroad to eat, and shall murmur if they be not filled.

17. But I will sing thy strength: and will extol thy mercy in the morning. For thou art become my support, and my refuge, in the day of my trouble.

18. Unto thee, O my helper, will I sing, for thou art God my defence: my God my mercy.