20 Now Saul’s daughter Michal(A) was in love with David, and when they told Saul about it, he was pleased.(B) 21 “I will give her to him,” he thought, “so that she may be a snare(C) to him and so that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” So Saul said to David, “Now you have a second opportunity to become my son-in-law.”

22 Then Saul ordered his attendants: “Speak to David privately and say, ‘Look, the king likes you, and his attendants all love you; now become his son-in-law.’”

23 They repeated these words to David. But David said, “Do you think it is a small matter to become the king’s son-in-law?(D) I’m only a poor man and little known.”

24 When Saul’s servants told him what David had said, 25 Saul replied, “Say to David, ‘The king wants no other price(E) for the bride than a hundred Philistine foreskins, to take revenge(F) on his enemies.’” Saul’s plan(G) was to have David fall by the hands of the Philistines.

26 When the attendants told David these things, he was pleased to become the king’s son-in-law. So before the allotted time elapsed, 27 David took his men with him and went out and killed two hundred Philistines and brought back their foreskins. They counted out the full number to the king so that David might become the king’s son-in-law. Then Saul gave him his daughter Michal(H) in marriage.

28 When Saul realized that the Lord was with David and that his daughter Michal(I) loved David, 29 Saul became still more afraid(J) of him, and he remained his enemy the rest of his days.

30 The Philistine commanders continued to go out to battle, and as often as they did, David met with more success(K) than the rest of Saul’s officers, and his name became well known.

Saul Tries to Kill David

19 Saul told his son Jonathan(L) and all the attendants to kill(M) David. But Jonathan had taken a great liking to David and warned him, “My father Saul is looking for a chance to kill you. Be on your guard tomorrow morning; go into hiding(N) and stay there. I will go out and stand with my father in the field where you are. I’ll speak(O) to him about you and will tell you what I find out.”

Jonathan spoke(P) well of David to Saul his father and said to him, “Let not the king do wrong(Q) to his servant David; he has not wronged you, and what he has done has benefited you greatly. He took his life(R) in his hands when he killed the Philistine. The Lord won a great victory(S) for all Israel, and you saw it and were glad. Why then would you do wrong to an innocent(T) man like David by killing him for no reason?”

Saul listened to Jonathan and took this oath: “As surely as the Lord lives, David will not be put to death.”

So Jonathan called David and told him the whole conversation. He brought him to Saul, and David was with Saul as before.(U)

Once more war broke out, and David went out and fought the Philistines. He struck them with such force that they fled before him.

But an evil[a] spirit(V) from the Lord came on Saul as he was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand. While David was playing the lyre,(W) 10 Saul tried to pin him to the wall with his spear, but David eluded(X) him as Saul drove the spear into the wall. That night David made good his escape.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 19:9 Or But a harmful

Psalm 61[a]

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. Of David.

Hear my cry, O God;(A)
    listen to my prayer.(B)

From the ends of the earth I call to you,
    I call as my heart grows faint;(C)
    lead me to the rock(D) that is higher than I.
For you have been my refuge,(E)
    a strong tower against the foe.(F)

I long to dwell(G) in your tent forever
    and take refuge in the shelter of your wings.[b](H)

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 61:1 In Hebrew texts 61:1-8 is numbered 61:2-9.
  2. Psalm 61:4 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.

30 By myself I can do nothing;(A) I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just,(B) for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.(C)

Testimonies About Jesus

31 “If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true.(D) 32 There is another who testifies in my favor,(E) and I know that his testimony about me is true.

33 “You have sent to John and he has testified(F) to the truth. 34 Not that I accept human testimony;(G) but I mention it that you may be saved.(H) 35 John was a lamp that burned and gave light,(I) and you chose for a time to enjoy his light.

36 “I have testimony weightier than that of John.(J) For the works that the Father has given me to finish—the very works that I am doing(K)—testify that the Father has sent me.(L) 37 And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me.(M) You have never heard his voice nor seen his form,(N) 38 nor does his word dwell in you,(O) for you do not believe(P) the one he sent.(Q) 39 You study[a] the Scriptures(R) diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life.(S) These are the very Scriptures that testify about me,(T) 40 yet you refuse to come to me(U) to have life.

41 “I do not accept glory from human beings,(V) 42 but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts. 43 I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him. 44 How can you believe since you accept glory from one another but do not seek the glory that comes from the only God[b]?(W)

45 “But do not think I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses,(X) on whom your hopes are set.(Y) 46 If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me.(Z) 47 But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?”(AA)

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Footnotes

  1. John 5:39 Or 39 Study
  2. John 5:44 Some early manuscripts the Only One

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