18 And it cometh to pass, when he finisheth to speak unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan hath been bound to the soul of David, and Jonathan loveth him as his own soul.

² And Saul taketh him on that day, and hath not permitted him to turn back to the house of his father.

³ And Jonathan maketh -- also David -- a covenant, because he loveth him as his own soul,

⁴ and Jonathan strippeth himself of the upper robe which [is] upon him, and giveth it to David, and his long robe, even unto his sword, and unto his bow, and unto his girdle.

⁵ And David goeth out whithersoever Saul doth send him; he acted wisely, and Saul setteth him over the men of war, and it is good in the eyes of all the people, and also in the eyes of the servants of Saul.

⁶ And it cometh to pass, in their coming in, in David's returning from smiting the Philistine, that the women come out from all the cities of Israel to sing -- also the dancers -- to meet Saul the king, with tabrets, with joy, and with three-stringed instruments;

⁷ and the women answer -- those playing, and say, `Saul hath smitten among his thousands, And David among his myriads.'

⁸ And it is displeasing to Saul exceedingly, and this thing is evil in his eyes, and he saith, `They have given to David myriads, and to me they have given the thousands, and more to him [is] only the kingdom;'

⁹ and Saul is eyeing David from that day and thenceforth.

¹⁰ And it cometh to pass, on the morrow, that the spirit of sadness [from] God prospereth over Saul, and he prophesieth in the midst of the house, and David is playing with his hand, as day by day, and the javelin [is] in the hand of Saul,

¹¹ and Saul casteth the javelin, and saith, `I smite through David, even through the wall;' and David turneth round out of his presence twice.

¹² And Saul is afraid of the presence of David, for Jehovah hath been with him, and from Saul He hath turned aside;

¹³ and Saul turneth him aside from him, and appointeth him to himself head of a thousand, and he goeth out an cometh in, before the people.

¹⁴ And David is in all his ways acting wisely, and Jehovah [is] with him,

¹⁵ and Saul seeth that he is acting very wisely, and is afraid of him,

¹⁶ and all Israel and Judah love David when he is going out and coming in before them.