⁸ Is that why all of you have conspired against me? No one discloses to me when my son makes a league with the son of Jesse; none of you is sorry for me or discloses to me that my son has stirred up my servant against me to lie in wait, as he is doing today.”^(A)

³ Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as his own soul.

²¹ Saul said, “May you be blessed by the Lord for showing me compassion!^(A)

¹⁶ Saul’s son Jonathan set out and came to David at Horesh; there he strengthened his hand through the Lord.^{[a](A) 17} He said to him, “Do not be afraid, for the hand of my father Saul shall not find you; you shall be king over Israel, and I shall be second to you; my father Saul also knows that this is so.”^{(B) 18} Then the two of them made a covenant before the Lord; David remained at Horesh, and Jonathan went home.^(C)

⁴² Then Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, since both of us have sworn in the name of the Lord, saying, ‘The Lord shall be between me and you and between my descendants and your descendants forever.’ ” He got up and left, and Jonathan went into the city.^[a](A)

³⁰ Then Saul’s anger was kindled against Jonathan. He said to him, “You son of a rebellious woman!^[a] Do I not know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to your own shame and to the shame of your mother’s nakedness?^{(A) 31} For as long as the son of Jesse lives upon the earth, neither you nor your kingdom shall be established. Now send and bring him to me, for he shall surely die.” ³² Then Jonathan answered his father Saul, “Why should he be put to death? What has he done?”^{(B) 33} But Saul threw his spear at him to strike him, so Jonathan knew that it was the decision of his father to put David to death.^{(C) 34} Jonathan sprang up^[b] from the table in fierce anger and ate no food on the second day of the month, for he was grieved for David and because his father had disgraced him.

¹³ But if my father intends to do you harm, the Lord do so to Jonathan and more also, if I do not disclose it to you and send you away, so that you may go in safety. May the Lord be with you, as he has been with my father.^{(A) 14} If I am still alive, show me the faithful love of the Lord, but if I die,^{[a] 15} never cut off your faithful love from my house, even if the Lord were to cut off every one of the enemies of David from the face of the earth.”^{(B) 16} Thus Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, “May the Lord seek out the enemies of David.” ¹⁷ Jonathan made David swear again by his love for him, for he loved him as he loved his own life.^(C)

⁸ Therefore deal kindly with your servant, for you have brought your servant into a sacred covenant^[a] with you. But if there is guilt in me, kill me yourself; why should you bring me to your father?”^(A)