1 Samuel 18
1. And it came to pass, when he had made an end * of speaking * unto Saul, that 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 let * him go no more home * to his father's house.
3. Then Jonathan and David made * a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.
4. And Jonathan stripped * himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave * it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.
5. And David went out * whithersoever Saul sent * him, and behaved himself wisely * : and Saul set * him over the men of war, and he was accepted * in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul's servants.
6. And it came to pass as they came * , when David was returned * from the slaughter * of the Philistine, that the women came out * of all cities of Israel, singing * and dancing, to meet * king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick.
7. And the women answered * one another as they played * , and said * , Saul hath slain * his thousands, and David his ten thousands.
8. And Saul was very wroth * , and the saying displeased * him; and he said * , They have ascribed * unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed * but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom?
9. And Saul eyed * David from that day and forward.
10. And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came * upon Saul, and he prophesied * in the midst of the house: and David played * with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul's hand.
11. And Saul cast * the javelin;for he said * , I will smite * David even to the wall with it. And David avoided out * of his presence twice.
12. And Saul was afraid * of David, because the LORD was with him, and was departed * from Saul.
13. Therefore Saul removed * him from him, and made * him his captain over a thousand; and he went out * and came in * before the people.
14. And David behaved himself wisely * in all his ways; and the LORD was with him.
15. Wherefore when Saul saw * that he behaved * himself very wisely * , he was afraid * of him.
16. But all Israel and Judah loved * David, because he went out * and came in * before them.
17. And Saul said * to David, Behold my elder daughter Merab, her will I give * thee to wife: only be thou valiant for me, and fight * the LORD'S battles. For Saul said * , Let not mine hand be upon him, but let the hand of the Philistines be upon him.
18. And David said * unto Saul, Who am I? and what is my life, or my father's family in Israel, that I should be son in law to the king?
19. But it came to pass at the time when Merab Saul's daughter should have been given * to David, that she was given * unto Adriel the Meholathite to wife.
20. And Michal Saul's daughter loved * David: and they told * Saul, and the thing pleased * him.
21. And Saul said * , I will give * him her, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. Wherefore Saul said * to David, Thou shalt this day be my son in law * in the one of the twain.
22. And Saul commanded * his servants, saying, Commune * with David secretly, and say * , Behold, the king hath delight * in thee, and all his servants love * thee: now therefore be the king's son in law * .
23. And Saul's servants spake * those words in the ears of David. And David said * , Seemeth it to you a light * thing to be a king's son in law * , seeing that I am a poor * man, and lightly esteemed * ?
24. And the servants of Saul told * him, saying * , On this manner spake * David.
25. And Saul said * , Thus shall ye say * to David, The king desireth not any dowry, but an hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged * of the king's enemies * . But Saul thought * to make David fall * by the hand of the Philistines.
26. And when his servants told * David these words, it pleased * David well to be the king's son in law * : and the days were not expired * .
27. Wherefore David arose * and went * , he and his men, and slew * of the Philistines two hundred men; and David brought * their foreskins, and they gave them in full tale * to the king, that he might be the king's son in law * . And Saul gave * him Michal his daughter to wife.
28. And Saul saw * and knew * that the LORD was with David, and that Michal Saul's daughter loved * him.
29. And Saul was yet the more * afraid * of David; and Saul became David's enemy * continually.
30. Then the princes of the Philistines went forth * : and it came to pass, after they went forth * , that David behaved himself more wisely * than all the servants of Saul; so that his name was much set by * .
