1 Samuel 18

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 When David had finished talking to Saul, Jonathan felt an instant affection for David; Jonathan lovedhim like his very self;	1 (By the time David finished speaking with Saul, Jonathan had become as fond of David as if his life depended on him; he loved him as he loved himself.
2 Saul engaged him that very day and would not let him go home to his father.	2 Saul laid claim to David that day and did not allow him to return to his father's house.
3 Jonathan made a pact with David, since he loved him like his very self;	3 And Jonathan entered into a bond with David, because he loved him as himself.
4 Jonathan took off the cloak which he was wearing and gave it to David, and his armour too, evenincluding his sword, his bow and his belt.	4 Jonathan divested himself of the mantle he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his military dress, and his sword, his bow and his belt.
5 Wherever David was sent on a mission by Saul, he was successful, and Saul put him in command ofthe fighting men; al the people respected him and so did Saul's staff.	5 David then carried out successfully every mission on which Saul sent him. So Saul put him in charge of his soldiers, and this was agreeable to the whole army, even to Saul's own officers.)
6 On their return, when David was coming back from kil ing the Philistine, the women came out of al thetowns of Israel singing and dancing to meet King Saul, with tambourines, sistrums and cries of joy;	6 At the approach of Saul and David (on David's return after slaying the Philistine), women came out from each of the cities of Israel to meet King Saul, singing and dancing, with tambourines, joyful songs, and sistrums.
7 and as they danced the women sang: Saul has kil ed his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.	7 The women played and sang: "Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands."
8 Saul was very angry; the incident displeased him. 'They have given David the tens of thousands,' hesaid, 'but me only the thousands; what more can he have, except the throne?'	8 Saul was very angry and resentful of the song, for he thought: "They give David ten thousands, but only thousands to me. All that remains for him is the kingship."
9 And Saul watched David jealously from that day onwards.	9 (And from that day on, Saul was jealous of David.
10 The fol owing day, an evil spirit from God seized on Saul and he fell into a frenzy while he wasindoors. David played the harp as on other occasions; Saul had a spear in his hand.	10 (The next day an evil spirit from God came over Saul, and he raged in his house. David was in attendance, playing the harp as at other times, while Saul was holding his spear.
11 Saul brandished the spear; he said, 'I wil pin David to the wall!' David evaded him twice.	11 Saul poised the spear, thinking to nail David to the wall, but twice David escaped him.)
12 Saul feared David, since Yahweh was with him and had withdrawn from Saul.	12 Saul then began to fear David, (because the LORD was with him, but had departed from Saul himself.)
13 So Saul removed him from his presence and appointed him commander of a thousand; he led thepeople on campaign.	13 Accordingly, Saul removed him from his presence by appointing him a field officer. So David led the people on their military expeditions,
14 In al his expeditions, David was successful and Yahweh was with him.	14 and prospered in all his enterprises, for the LORD was with him.
15 And Saul, seeing how very successful he was, was afraid of him.	15 Seeing how successful he was, Saul conceived a fear of David:
16 Al Israel and Judah loved David, however, since he was their leader on campaign.	16 on the other hand, all Israel and Judah loved him, since he led them on their expeditions.
17 Saul said to David, 'This is my elder daughter Merab; I shal give her to you in marriage; but you mustserve me bravely and fight Yahweh's wars.' Saul thought, 'Better than strike the blow myself, let the Philistinesdo it!'	17 (Saul said to David, "There is my older daughter, Merob, whom I will give you in marriage if you become my champion and fight the battles of the LORD." Saul had in mind, "I shall not touch him; let the Philistines strike him."
18 David replied to Saul, 'Who am I and what is my lineage -- and my father's family -- in Israel, for meto become the king's son-in-law?'	18 But David answered Saul: "Who am I? And who are my kin or my father's clan in Israel that I should become the king's son-in-law?"
19 When the time came for Merab daughter of Saul to be given to David, she was given to Adriel ofMeholah instead.	19 However, when it was time for Saul's daughter Merob to be given to David, she was given in marriage to Adriel the Meholathite instead.)
20 Now Michal daughter of Saul fel in love with David. When Saul heard this he was pleased.	20 Now Saul's daughter Michal loved David, and it was reported to Saul, who was pleased at this,
21 He thought, 'Yes, I shall give her to him; she can be the snare for him, so that the Philistines wil gethim.' (On two occasions, Saul told David, 'Today, you shall be my son-in-law.')	21 for he thought, "I will offer her to him to become a snare for him, so that the Philistines may strike him." (Thus for the second time Saul said to David, "You shall become my son-in-law today.")
22 Saul gave instructions to his servants, 'Have a private word with David and say, "Look, the king isfond of you and al his servants love you -- why not be the king's son-in-law?" '	22 Saul then ordered his servants to speak to David privately and to say: "The king is fond of you, and all his officers love you. You should become the king's son-in-law."
23 Saul's servants repeated these words in David's ear, to which David replied, 'Do you think thatbecoming the king's son-in-law is a trivial matter; I have neither wealth nor position.'	23 But when Saul's servants mentioned this to David, he said: "Do you think it easy to become the king's son-in-law? I am poor and insignificant."
24 Saul's servants then reported back, 'This is what David said.'	24 When his servants reported to him the nature of David's answer,
25 Saul replied, 'Tel David this, "The king desires no bride-price except one hundred Philistineforeskins, in vengeance on the king's enemies." ' Saul was counting on getting David killed by the Philistines.	25 Saul commanded them to say this to David: "The king desires no other price for the bride than the foreskins of one hundred Philistines, that he may thus take vengeance on his enemies." Saul intended in this way to bring about David's death through the Philistines.
26 When his servants repeated this to David, David thought it would be a fine thing to be the king's son-in-law. And no time was lost	26 When the servants reported this offer to David, he was pleased with the prospect of becoming the king's son-in-law. (Before the year was up,)
27 before David got up to go, he and his men, and kil ed two hundred of the Philistines. David broughttheir foreskins back and counted them out before the king, so that he could be the king's son-in-law. Saul thengave him his daughter Michal in marriage.	27 David made preparations and sallied forth with his men and slew two hundred Philistines. He brought back their foreskins and counted them out before the king, that he might thus become the king's son-in-law. So Saul gave him his daughter Michal in marriage.
28 Saul could not but see that Yahweh was with David, and that the whole House of Israel loved him;	28 Saul thus came to recognize that the LORD was with David; besides, his own daughter Michal loved David.
29 Saul became more afraid of David than ever, and became his inveterate enemy.	29 Therefore Saul feared David all the more (and was his enemy ever after).
30 The Philistine chiefs kept mounting their campaigns but, whenever they did so, David proved moresuccessful than any of Saul's staff; consequently he gained great renown.	30 (The Philistine chiefs continued to make forays, but each time they took the field, David was more successful against them than any other of Saul's officers, and as a result acquired great fame.)