1 Samuel 20:14-23

English Standard Version

¹⁴ If I am still alive, show me the steadfast love of the Lord, that I may not die; ^15 (A)and do not cut off^[a] your steadfast love from my house forever, when the Lord cuts off every one of the enemies of David from the face of the earth.” ¹⁶ And Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, ^(B)“May^[b] the Lord take vengeance on David's enemies.” ¹⁷ And Jonathan made David swear again by his love for him, ^(C)for he loved him as he loved his own soul.

¹⁸ Then Jonathan said to him, ^(D)“Tomorrow is the new moon, and ^(E)you will be missed, because ^(F)your seat will be empty. ¹⁹ On the third day go down quickly to the place where you hid yourself when the matter was in hand, and remain beside the stone heap.^{[c] 20} And I will shoot three arrows to the side of it, as though I shot at a mark. ²¹ And behold, I will send the boy, saying, ‘Go, find the arrows.’ If I say to the boy, ‘Look, the arrows are on this side of you, take them,’ then you are to come, for, ^(G)as the Lord lives, it is safe for you and there is no danger. ²² But if I say to the youth, ^(H)‘Look, the arrows are beyond you,’ then go, for the Lord has sent you away. ^23 (I)And as for the matter of which you and I have spoken, behold, ^(J)the Lord is between you and me forever.”