1 Samuel 18

All 30 verses in the Clear Bible Translation. Tap a verse to compare the KJV and read what it means.

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1. 1When David finished speaking with Saul, Jonathan's soul was knit with David's soul, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.
2. 2From that day on, Saul kept David with him and wouldn't let him go back to his father's house.
3. 3Then Jonathan and David made a covenant because Jonathan loved David as much as he loved himself.
4. 4Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his other clothing, his sword, his bow, and his belt.
5. 5David succeeded at every mission Saul gave him and handled himself wisely. So Saul put him in command of his soldiers, and everyone approved — both the people and Saul's own officials.
6. 6When the army returned home after David killed the Philistine, women came out from every town in Israel to greet King Saul, singing and dancing with tambourines, celebration, and musical instruments.
7. 7As they played, the women sang back and forth to each other, saying, 'Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands.'
8. 8This made Saul furious. He fumed, "They're giving David credit for 10 thousands but only giving me thousands! What's left for him but the kingdom itself?"
9. 9And from that day on, Saul kept a suspicious eye on David.
10. 10The next day, an evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied inside the house. David was playing the harp as he usually did, and Saul had a spear in his hand.
11. 11Saul hurled the spear, thinking, "I'll pin David to the wall!" But David dodged him — twice.
12. 12Saul became afraid of David because the LORD was with David but had departed from Saul.
13. 13So Saul sent David away from his side and made him a commander over 1,000 soldiers. David went out and came in before the people.
14. 14David handled everything wisely, and the LORD was with him.
15. 15When Saul saw how wisely David acted, he became afraid of him.
16. 16But all Israel and Judah loved David because he went out and came in before them.
17. 17Saul told David, "Here — I'll give you my oldest daughter Merab as your wife. Just be brave for me and fight the LORD's battles." But privately, Saul was thinking, "I won't have to kill him myself. The Philistines will do it for me."
18. 18David replied to Saul, "Who am I? What is my life or my family's standing in Israel that I should become the king's son-in-law?"
19. 19But when the time came for Merab to be given to David, Saul gave her instead to Adriel the Meholathite as his wife.
20. 20Now Michal, Saul's daughter, loved David. When Saul heard about it, he was pleased.
21. 21Saul thought, "I'll give her to him — she'll be the trap that leads him into the hands of the Philistines." So Saul said to David, "Today you have a second chance to become my son-in-law."
22. 22Then Saul instructed his servants, "Talk to David privately and tell him, 'The king is fond of you, and all his servants like you. You should become the king's son-in-law.'"
23. 23Saul's servants passed along these words to David. But David said, "Do you think becoming the king's son-in-law is a small thing? I'm just a poor man with no reputation."
24. 24Saul's servants reported back to him exactly what David had said.
25. 25Saul told them, "Say this to David: 'The king doesn't want any bride price — just 100 foreskins from the Philistines, as revenge against his enemies.'" Saul's real plan was for David to die at the hands of the Philistines.
26. 26When the servants relayed this to David, he was happy with the arrangement. Before the deadline had passed,
27. 27David and his men went out and killed 200 Philistines. David brought back their foreskins and presented the full count to the king so he could become the king's son-in-law. Saul then gave him his daughter Michal as his wife.
28. 28Saul could see clearly that the LORD was with David, and that his own daughter Michal loved him.
29. 29This made Saul even more afraid of David, and from then on, Saul was David's enemy continually.
30. 30Whenever the Philistine commanders came out to fight, David outperformed every one of Saul's officers. His reputation grew, and his name became widely honored.