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5 On every mission on which Saul sent him, David achieved success. So Saul appointed him over the men of war. This pleased not only all the army, but also Saul’s servants.[a]
6 When the men[b] arrived after David returned from striking down the Philistine, the women from all the cities of Israel came out singing and dancing to meet King Saul. They were happy as they played their tambourines and three-stringed instruments.[c] 7 The women who were playing the music sang,
“Saul has struck down his thousands,
but David his tens of thousands!”
8 This made Saul very angry. The statement displeased him and he thought,[d] “They have attributed to David tens of thousands, but to me they have attributed only thousands. What does he lack, except the kingdom?” 9 So Saul was keeping an eye on David from that day onward.
10 The next day an evil spirit from God rushed upon Saul and he prophesied[e] within his house. Now David was playing the lyre[f] as usual. There was a spear in Saul’s hand, 11 and Saul threw the spear, thinking, “I’ll nail David to the wall!” But David escaped from him on two different occasions.
12 So Saul feared David, because the Lord was with David but had departed from Saul. 13 Saul removed David[g] from his presence and made him a commanding officer.[h] David led the army out to battle and back.[i] 14 Now David achieved success in all he did,[j] for the Lord was with him. 15 When Saul saw how very successful he was, he was afraid of him. 16 But all Israel and Judah loved David, for he was the one leading them out to battle and back.
17 [k] Then Saul said to David, “Here’s my oldest daughter, Merab. I want to give her to you in marriage. Only be a brave warrior[l] for me and fight the battles of the Lord.” For Saul thought, “There’s no need for me to raise my hand against him. Let it be the hand of the Philistines!”
18 David said to Saul, “Who am I? Who are my relatives or the clan of my father[m] in Israel that I should become the king’s son-in-law?” 19 When the time came for Merab, Saul’s daughter, to be given to David, she instead was given in marriage to Adriel, who was from Meholah.
20 Now Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved David. When they told Saul about this, it[n] pleased him. 21 Saul said, “I will give her to him so that she may become a snare to him and so the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” So Saul said to David, “Today is the second time for you to become my son-in-law.”[o]
22 Then Saul instructed his servants, “Tell David secretly, ‘The king is pleased with you, and all his servants like you. So now become the king’s son-in-law.’” 23 So Saul’s servants spoke these words privately to[p] David. David replied, “Is becoming the king’s son-in-law something insignificant to you? I’m just a poor and lightly esteemed man!”
24 When Saul’s servants reported what David had said, 25 Saul replied, “Here is what you should say to David: ‘There is nothing that the king wants as a price for the bride except 100 Philistine foreskins, so that he can be avenged of his[q] enemies.’” (Now Saul was thinking that he could kill David by the hand of the Philistines.)
26 So his servants told David these things and David agreed[r] to become the king’s son-in-law. Now the specified time had not yet expired[s] 27 when David, along with his men, went out[t] and struck down 200 Philistine men. David brought their foreskins and presented all of them to the king so that he could become the king’s son-in-law. Saul then gave him his daughter Michal in marriage.
28 When Saul realized[u] that the Lord was with David and that his[v] daughter Michal loved David,[w] 29 Saul became even more afraid of him.[x] Saul continued to be at odds with David from then on.[y] 30 [z] The leaders of the Philistines would march out, and as often as they did so, David achieved more success than all of Saul’s servants. His name was held in high esteem.
Saul Repeatedly Attempts to Take David’s Life
19 Then Saul told his son Jonathan and all his servants to kill David. But Saul’s son Jonathan liked David very much.[aa] 2 So Jonathan told David, “My father Saul is trying[ab] to kill you. So be careful tomorrow morning. Find[ac] a hiding place and stay in seclusion.[ad] 3 I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are. I will speak to my father about you. When I find out what the problem is,[ae] I will let you know.”
4 So Jonathan spoke on David’s behalf[af] to his father Saul. He said to him, “The king should not sin against his servant David, for he has not sinned against you. On the contrary, his actions have been very beneficial[ag] for you. 5 He risked his life[ah] when he struck down the Philistine, and the Lord gave all Israel a great victory. When you saw it, you were happy. So why would you sin against innocent blood by putting David to death for no reason?”
6 Saul accepted Jonathan’s advice[ai] and took an oath, “As surely as the Lord lives, he will not be put to death.” 7 Then Jonathan called David and told him all these things. Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he served him as he had done formerly.[aj]
8 Now once again there was war. So David went out to fight the Philistines. He defeated them thoroughly,[ak] and they ran away from him. 9 Then an evil spirit from the Lord came upon[al] Saul. He was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand, while David was playing the lyre.[am] 10 Saul tried to nail David to the wall with the spear, but he escaped from Saul’s presence, and the spear drove into the wall.[an] David escaped quickly[ao] that night.
11 Saul sent messengers to David’s house to guard it and to kill him in the morning. Then David’s wife Michal told him, “If you do not save yourself[ap] tonight, tomorrow you will be dead!” 12 So Michal lowered David through the window, and he ran away and escaped.
13 Then Michal took a household idol[aq] and put it on the bed. She put a quilt[ar] made of goats’ hair over its head[as] and then covered the idol with a garment. 14 When Saul sent messengers to arrest David, she said, “He’s sick.”
15 Then Saul sent the messengers back to see David, saying, “Bring him up to me on his bed so I can kill him.” 16 When the messengers came, they found only the idol on the bed and the quilt made of goats’ hair at its head.
17 Saul said to Michal, “Why have you deceived me this way by sending my enemy away? Now he has escaped!” Michal replied to Saul, “He said to me, ‘Help me get away or else I will kill you!’”[at]
18 Now David had run away and escaped. He went to Samuel in Ramah and told him everything that Saul had done to him. Then he and Samuel went and stayed at Naioth. 19 It was reported to Saul saying, “David is at Naioth in Ramah.” 20 So Saul sent messengers to capture David. When they saw a company of prophets prophesying with Samuel standing there as their leader, the Spirit of God came upon Saul’s messengers, and they also prophesied. 21 When it was reported to Saul, he sent more messengers, but they prophesied too. So Saul sent messengers a third time, but they also prophesied. 22 Finally Saul[au] himself went to Ramah. When he arrived at the large cistern that is in Secu, he asked, “Where are Samuel and David?” They said, “At Naioth in Ramah.”
23 So Saul went to Naioth in Ramah. The Spirit of God came upon him as well, and he walked along prophesying until he came to Naioth in Ramah. 24 He even stripped off his clothes and prophesied before Samuel. He lay there[av] naked all that day and night. (For that reason it is asked, “Is Saul also among the prophets?”)
Abraham’s Children and the Devil’s Children
31 Then Jesus said to those Judeans[a] who had believed him, “If you continue to follow my teaching,[b] you are really[c] my disciples 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”[d] 33 “We are descendants[e] of Abraham,” they replied,[f] “and have never been anyone’s slaves! How can you say,[g] ‘You will become free’?” 34 Jesus answered them, “I tell you the solemn truth,[h] everyone who practices[i] sin is a slave[j] of sin. 35 The slave does not remain in the family[k] forever, but the son remains forever.[l] 36 So if the son[m] sets you free, you will be really free. 37 I know that you are Abraham’s descendants.[n] But you want[o] to kill me, because my teaching[p] makes no progress among you.[q] 38 I am telling you the things I have seen while with the[r] Father;[s] as for you,[t] practice the things you have heard from the[u] Father!”
39 They answered him,[v] “Abraham is our father!”[w] Jesus replied,[x] “If you are[y] Abraham’s children, you would be doing[z] the deeds of Abraham. 40 But now you are trying[aa] to kill me, a man who has told you[ab] the truth I heard from God. Abraham did not do this![ac] 41 You people[ad] are doing the deeds of your father.”
Then[ae] they said to Jesus,[af] “We were not born as a result of immorality![ag] We have only one Father, God himself.” 42 Jesus replied,[ah] “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come from God and am now here.[ai] I[aj] have not come on my own initiative,[ak] but he[al] sent me. 43 Why don’t you understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot accept[am] my teaching.[an] 44 You people[ao] are from[ap] your father the devil, and you want to do what your father desires.[aq] He[ar] was a murderer from the beginning, and does not uphold the truth,[as] because there is no truth in him. Whenever he lies,[at] he speaks according to his own nature,[au] because he is a liar and the father of lies.[av] 45 But because I am telling you[aw] the truth, you do not believe me. 46 Who among you can prove me guilty[ax] of any sin?[ay] If I am telling you[az] the truth, why don’t you believe me? 47 The one who belongs to[ba] God listens and responds[bb] to God’s words. You don’t listen and respond,[bc] because you don’t belong to God.”[bd]
48 The Judeans[be] replied,[bf] “Aren’t we correct in saying[bg] that you are a Samaritan and are possessed by a demon?”[bh] 49 Jesus answered, “I am not possessed by a demon,[bi] but I honor my Father—and yet[bj] you dishonor me. 50 I am not trying to get[bk] praise for myself.[bl] There is one who demands[bm] it, and he also judges.[bn] 51 I tell you the solemn truth,[bo] if anyone obeys[bp] my teaching,[bq] he will never see death.”[br]
52 Then[bs] the Judeans[bt] responded,[bu] “Now we know you’re possessed by a demon![bv] Both Abraham and the prophets died, and yet[bw] you say, ‘If anyone obeys[bx] my teaching,[by] he will never experience[bz] death.’[ca] 53 You aren’t greater than our father Abraham who died, are you?[cb] And the prophets died too! Who do you claim to be?” 54 Jesus replied,[cc] “If I glorify myself, my glory is worthless.[cd] The one who glorifies me is my Father, about whom you people[ce] say, ‘He is our God.’ 55 Yet[cf] you do not know him, but I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him,[cg] I would be a liar like you. But I do know him, and I obey[ch] his teaching.[ci] 56 Your father Abraham was overjoyed[cj] to see my day, and he saw it and was glad.”[ck]
57 Then the Judeans[cl] replied,[cm] “You are not yet fifty years old![cn] Have[co] you seen Abraham?” 58 Jesus said to them, “I tell you the solemn truth,[cp] before Abraham came into existence,[cq] I am!”[cr] 59 Then they picked up[cs] stones to throw at him,[ct] but Jesus was hidden from them[cu] and went out from the temple area.[cv]
Psalm 112[a]
112 Praise the Lord!
How blessed is the one[b] who obeys[c] the Lord,
who takes great delight in keeping his commands.[d]
2 His descendants[e] will be powerful on the earth;
the godly[f] will be blessed.
3 His house contains wealth and riches;
his integrity endures.[g]
4 In the darkness a light[h] shines for the godly,
for each one who is merciful, compassionate, and just.[i]
5 It goes well for the one[j] who generously lends money,
and conducts his business honestly.[k]
6 For he will never be shaken;
others will always remember one who is just.[l]
7 He does not fear bad news.
He[m] is confident; he trusts in the Lord.
8 His resolve[n] is firm; he will not succumb to fear
before he looks in triumph on his enemies.
9 He generously gives[o] to the needy;
his integrity endures.[p]
He will be vindicated and honored.[q]
10 When the wicked[r] see this, they will worry;
they will grind their teeth in frustration[s] and melt away.
The desire of the wicked will perish.[t]
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