1 Samuel, 19

1. And Saul spake to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they should kill David.

1. Saul told his son Jonathan and his servants of his intention to kill David. But Jonathan, who liked David very much,

2. But Jonathan Saul's son delighted much in David: and Jonathan told David, saying, Saul my father seeketh to kill thee: now therefore, I pray thee, take heed to thyself until the morning, and abide in a secret [place], and hide thyself:

2. said to David, "My father Saul wants to kill you. Be on your guard tomorrow morning and hide yourself in a secret place.

3. And I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where thou [art], and I will commune with my father of thee; and what I see, that I will tell thee.

3. I will go out and keep my father company in the countryside where you are and I will speak to him about you. If I find out something, I will let you know."

4. And Jonathan spake good of David unto Saul his father, and said unto him, Let not the king sin against his servant, against David; because he hath not sinned against thee, and because his works [have been] to thee-ward very good:

4. Jonathan spoke well of David to his father Saul and said, "Let not the king sin against his servant David for he has not sinned against you. On the contrary, what he has done has benefited you.

5. For he did put his life in his hand, and slew the Philistine, and the LORD wrought a great salvation for all Israel: thou sawest [it], and didst rejoice: wherefore then wilt thou sin against innocent blood, to slay David without a cause?

5. He risked his life in killing the Philistine and Yahweh brought about a great victory for Israel. You yourself saw this and greatly rejoiced. Why then sin against innocent blood and kill David without cause?"

6. And Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan: and Saul sware, [As] the LORD liveth, he shall not be slain.

6. Saul heeded Jonathan's plea and swore, "As Yahweh lives, he shall not be put to death."

7. And Jonathan called David, and Jonathan shewed him all those things. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence, as in times past.

7. So Jonathan called David and told him all these things. He then brought him to Saul and David was back in Saul's service as before.

8. And there was war again: and David went out, and fought with the Philistines, and slew them with a great slaughter; and they fled from him.

8. War broke out again and David set out to fight the Philistines. David crushed them so badly that they had to flee.

9. And the evil spirit from the LORD was upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand: and David played with [his] hand.

9. Then an evil spirit from Yahweh seized Saul as he sat in his house holding his spear while David was playing on the lyre.

10. And Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with the javelin; but he slipped away out of Saul's presence, and he smote the javelin into the wall: and David fled, and escaped that night.

10. Saul made an attempt to pin David to the wall with his spear. David, however, dodged the blow and the spear hit the wall instead. David fled and escaped.

11. Saul also sent messengers unto David's house, to watch him, and to slay him in the morning: and Michal David's wife told him, saying, If thou save not thy life to night, to morrow thou shalt be slain.

11. That night Saul sent messengers to David's house to keep an eye on him as he intended to kill him the following morning. But David's wife, Michal, told him, "If you do not run for your life tonight, tomorrow you will be killed."

12. So Michal let David down through a window: and he went, and fled, and escaped.

12. So Michal let David down through the window, allowing him to escape.

13. And Michal took an image, and laid [it] in the bed, and put a pillow of goats' [hair] for his bolster, and covered [it] with a cloth.

13. Next Michal took the household idol, laid it in the bed and put a bundle of goat's hair on its head. She then covered this with a blanket.

14. And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, He [is] sick.

14. When Saul sent messengers to capture David, Michal told them, "He is sick."

15. And Saul sent the messengers [again] to see David, saying, Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may slay him.

15. Saul sent messengers back to David and said, "Bring him up to me on his bed for me to kill him."

16. And when the messengers were come in, behold, [there was] an image in the bed, with a pillow of goats' [hair] for his bolster.

16. But when the messengers entered, they saw the household idol in the bed with the bundle of goat's hair at its head.

17. And Saul said unto Michal, Why hast thou deceived me so, and sent away mine enemy, that he is escaped? And Michal answered Saul, He said unto me, Let me go; why should I kill thee?

17. Saul, therefore, asked Michal, "Why did you deceive me and allow my enemy to escape?" Michal answered, "He threatened to kill me if I did not let him go!"

18. So David fled, and escaped, and came to Samuel to Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and dwelt in Naioth.

18. David had fled and was in safety. He went to Samuel at Ramah and related all that Saul had done to him. He and Samuel then went to live at Naioth.

19. And it was told Saul, saying, Behold, David [is] at Naioth in Ramah.

19. Saul was told that David stayed at Naioth in Ramah,

20. And Saul sent messengers to take David: and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing [as] appointed over them, the Spirit of God was upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied.

20. so he sent messengers to capture David. But when they saw the band of prophets prophesying (signifying that they had fallen into a trance) with Samuel leading them, the spirit of Yahweh came upon them and made them prophesy.

21. And when it was told Saul, he sent other messengers, and they prophesied likewise. And Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they prophesied also.

21. Upon hearing what happened, Saul sent more messengers who also began to prophesy. Saul sent more the third time and the same thing happened.

22. Then went he also to Ramah, and came to a great well that [is] in Sechu: and he asked and said, Where [are] Samuel and David? And [one] said, Behold, [they be] at Naioth in Ramah.

22. Then Saul himself went to Ramah and arrived at the deep well in Secu. He asked, "Where can I find Samuel and David?" The people answered, "They are at Naioth in Ramah."

23. And he went thither to Naioth in Ramah: and the Spirit of God was upon him also, and he went on, and prophesied, until he came to Naioth in Ramah.

23. So Saul proceeded to Naioth in Ramah but the Spirit of Yahweh came upon him as well. And he walked along prophesying until he reached the entrance of Naioth in Ramah.

24. And he stripped off his clothes also, and prophesied before Samuel in like manner, and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Wherefore they say, [Is] Saul also among the prophets?

24. He took off his clothes and prophesied in Samuel's presence. Then he fell down naked, remaining in that position all day and all night. Hence sprang the saying, "Is Saul also among the prophets?"