¹⁸ Then David responded, “Who am I,^(A) and what is my family or my father’s clan in Israel that I should become the king’s son-in-law?” ¹⁹ When it was time to give Saul’s daughter Merab to David, she was given to Adriel the Meholathite as a wife.^(B)

David’s Marriage to Michal

²⁰ Now Saul’s daughter Michal^(C) loved David, and when it was reported to Saul, it pleased him. ²¹ “I’ll give her to him,” Saul thought. “She’ll be a trap for him, and the hand of the Philistines will be against him.”^(D) So Saul said to David a second time, “You can now be my son-in-law.”^(E)

²² Saul then ordered his servants, “Speak to David in private and tell him, ‘Look, the king is pleased with you, and all his servants love you. Therefore, you should become the king’s son-in-law.’”

²³ Saul’s servants reported these words directly to David, but he replied, “Is it trivial in your sight to become the king’s son-in-law? I am a poor commoner.”^(F)

¹⁴ Who has the king of Israel come after? What are you chasing after? A dead dog? A single flea?^(A)

²⁰ So don’t let my blood fall to the ground far from the Lord’s presence, for the king of Israel has come out to search for a single flea,^(A) like one who pursues a partridge in the mountains.”

David’s Prayer of Thanksgiving

¹⁸ Then King David went in,^(A) sat in the Lord’s presence, and said,

Who am I, Lord God, and what is my house that you have brought me this far? ¹⁹ What you have done so far^[a] was a little thing to you, Lord God, for you have also spoken about your servant’s house in the distant future. And this is a revelation^[b] for mankind, Lord God. ²⁰ What more can David say to you? You know your servant,^(B) Lord God. ²¹ Because of your word and according to your will, you have revealed all these great things to your servant.

²² This is why you are great,^(C) Lord God. There is no one like you, and there is no God besides you,^(D) as all we have heard confirms. ²³ And who is like your people Israel? God came to one nation on earth in order to redeem a people for himself, to make a name for himself, and to perform for them^[c] great and awesome acts,^[d] driving out nations and their gods before your people you redeemed for yourself from Egypt.^{(E) 24} You established your people Israel to be your own people forever, and you, Lord, have become their God.^(F)

²⁵ Now, Lord God, fulfill the promise forever that you have made to your servant and his house. Do as you have promised, ²⁶ so that your name will be exalted forever, when it is said, “The Lord of Armies is God over Israel.” The house of your servant David^(G) will be established before you ²⁷ since you, Lord of Armies, God of Israel, have revealed this to your servant when you said, “I will build a house for you.” Therefore, your servant has found the courage to pray this prayer to you. ²⁸ Lord God, you are God; your words are true, and you have promised this good thing to your servant. ²⁹ Now, please bless your servant’s house so that it will continue before you forever. For you, Lord God, have spoken, and with your blessing your servant’s house will be blessed forever.^(H)

The Lord’s Covenant with David

17 When David^(A) had settled into his palace, he said to the prophet Nathan, “Look! I am living in a cedar house while the ark of the Lord’s covenant is under tent curtains.”^(B)