1 Samuel 18

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.

After he finished speaking to Saul, Jonathan felt an intense bond with David, loving him as deeply as he loved himself.

And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father’s house.

From that day, Saul kept David with him, refusing to let him return to his father's home.

Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.

Jonathan and David pledged a bond of deep friendship, for Jonathan loved David as much as he loved himself.

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.

Jonathan, overwhelmed with affection, removed his robe and handed it to David. He gave him his clothes, his sword, his bow, and his belt, a profound gesture of friendship and respect.

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.

David faithfully followed Saul's orders, acting wisely wherever he was sent. Saul made him a leader of the soldiers, earning the respect and acceptance of everyone, including Saul's own servants.

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.

When David returned victorious from defeating the Philistine, women from every city in Israel joyfully greeted King Saul. They celebrated with songs, dances, and music, their hearts filled with happiness.

And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.

The women joyfully echoed each other as they danced and made music, exclaiming, "Saul has conquered thousands, but David, he has triumphed over tens of thousands!"

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?

Saul was filled with intense anger and deep resentment. He said, "They credit David with tens of thousands and me with only thousands. What's left for him to take but the kingdom?"

And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.

From that day on, Saul looked at David with suspicion and unease.

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.

The next day, Saul was consumed by a wicked spirit from God. He began to prophesy wildly within his home. David, as usual, strummed his instrument, trying to soothe Saul. But this time, Saul held a spear in his hand.

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.

In a fit of rage, Saul hurled his spear, vowing to pin David to the wall. But David, quick and alert, evaded him not once, but twice.

And Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with him, and was departed from Saul.

Saul trembled in fear of David, because the Lord was with David and had left Saul.

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

So, Saul distanced himself from him, promoting him to lead a thousand men. He was seen coming and going among the people.

And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the LORD was with him.

David acted with wisdom in every aspect of his life, always feeling the comforting presence of the Lord by his side.

Wherefore when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he was afraid of him.

When Saul noticed David's wisdom, he was filled with fear.

But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them.

Everyone in Israel and Judah adored David, for he led them out to battle and brought them back.

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.

Saul told David, "My eldest daughter, Merab, I offer to you as a wife. But you must be brave for me and fight God's battles." Saul didn't want to harm David himself, instead he hoped the Philistines would.

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?

David humbly asked Saul, "Why me? Why should someone as ordinary as I, from such a simple family, be chosen as the king's son-in-law?"

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.

When it was time for Saul's daughter, Merab, to marry David, she was instead wedded to Adriel the Meholathite.

And Michal Saul’s daughter loved David: and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him.

Michal, Saul's daughter, was deeply in love with David. When Saul heard about it, he was genuinely pleased.

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.

Saul, with a cunning smile, promised David his daughter, hoping she would bring him trouble and turn the Philistines against him. "Today, David," he said, "you become my son-in-law, one of two."

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.

Saul instructed his aides, "Speak to David privately, tell him, 'The king admires you greatly, and his servants hold you dear. So, consider becoming the king's son-in-law.'"

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?

Saul's servants relayed the message to David. David responded, "Do you think it's easy to be a king's son-in-law, especially when I'm just a poor, insignificant man?"

And the servants of Saul told him, saying, On this manner spake David.

Saul's aides relayed to him, expressing, "David spoke in this way."

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.

Saul instructed, "Tell David, the king doesn't want a dowry, just a hundred Philistine foreskins as revenge against his foes." But Saul's hidden motive was to have David killed by the Philistines.

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.

When Saul's servants relayed the message, David was filled with joy at the prospect of becoming the king's son-in-law, and the time set for it had not yet run out.

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.

Driven by courage, David and his men went out and killed two hundred Philistines. David brought their foreskins and handed the full number to the king, so that he could become the king's son-in-law. Then Saul gave him his daughter Michal as his wife.

And Saul saw and knew that the LORD was with David, and that Michal Saul’s daughter loved him.

Saul recognized, with a pang of envy, that God's favor rested on David. He also noticed his daughter Michal's eyes light up with love whenever she looked at David.

And Saul was yet the more afraid of David; and Saul became David’s enemy continually.

Saul's fear of David only grew stronger, and he became a constant adversary to David.

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.

The Philistine leaders set out, and as they did, David showed greater wisdom than all of Saul's servants. His reputation grew significantly because of this.