1 Samuel 18:7-25
New American Standard Bible
8Then Saul became very angry, for this lyric displeased him; and he said, 'They have given David credit for ten thousands, but to me they have given credit for only thousands! Now what more can he have but the kingdom?'
9And Saul eyed David with suspicion from that day on.
10Now it came about on the next day that an evil spirit from God rushed upon Saul, and he raved in the midst of the house while David was playing the harp with his hand, as usual; and a spear was in Saul’s hand.
11Then Saul hurled the spear, for he thought, 'I will pin David to the wall.' But David escaped from his presence, twice.
12Now Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with him but had left Saul.
13So Saul removed him from his presence and appointed him as his commander of a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people.
14David was successful in all his ways, for the Lord was with him.
15When Saul saw that he was very successful, he was afraid of him.
16But all Israel and Judah loved David, for he would go out to battle and return before them.
17Then Saul said to David, 'Here is my older daughter Merab; I will give her to you as a wife, only be a valiant man for me and fight the Lord’S battles.' For Saul thought, 'My hand shall not be against him, but let the hand of the Philistines be against him.'
18But David said to Saul, 'Who am I, and who is my family, or my father’s family in Israel, that I should be the king’s son-in-law?'
19So it came about at the time that Merab, Saul’s daughter, was to be given to David, that she was given instead to Adriel the Meholathite as a wife.
20Now Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved David. When they informed Saul, the thing was pleasing to him.
21For Saul thought, 'I will give her to him so that she may become a trap for him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.' Therefore Saul said to David, 'For a second time you may become my son-in-law, today.'
22Then Saul commanded his servants, 'Speak to David in secret, saying, ‘Behold, the king delights in you, and all his servants love you; now then, become the king’s son-in-law.’?'
23So Saul’s servants spoke these words to David. But David said, 'Is it trivial in your sight to become the king’s son-in-law, since I am only a poor man and insignificant?'
24Then Saul’s servants reported to him, saying, 'These are the words David spoke.'
25Saul then said, 'This is what you shall say to David: ‘The king does not desire any dowry except a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to take vengeance on the king’s enemies.’?' But Saul plotted to have David fall by the hand of the Philistines.
King James Version
Chapter 18
7And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands. 8And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom? 9And Saul eyed David from that day and forward. 10And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul's hand. 11And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall with it. And David avoided out of his presence twice.
12And Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with him, and was departed from Saul.
13Therefore Saul removed him from him, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people.
14And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the LORD was with him.
15Wherefore when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he was afraid of him.
16But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them.
17And Saul said to David, Behold my elder daughter Merab, her will I give thee to wife: only be thou valiant for me, and fight the LORD'S battles. For Saul said, Let not mine hand be upon him, but let the hand of the Philistines be upon him.
18And David said unto Saul, Who am I? and what is my life, or my father's family in Israel, that I should be son in law to the king?
19But it came to pass at the time when Merab Saul's daughter should have been given to David, that she was given unto Adriel the Meholathite to wife.
20And Michal Saul's daughter loved David: and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him.
21And Saul said, I will give him her, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. Wherefore Saul said to David, Thou shalt this day be my son in law in the one of the twain.
22And Saul commanded his servants, saying, Commune with David secretly, and say, Behold, the king hath delight in thee, and all his servants love thee: now therefore be the king's son in law.
23And Saul's servants spake those words in the ears of David. And David said, Seemeth it to you a light thing to be a king's son in law, seeing that I am a poor man, and lightly esteemed?
24And the servants of Saul told him, saying, On this manner spake David.
25And Saul said, Thus shall ye say to David, The king desireth not any dowry, but an hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king's enemies. But Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.
Christian Standard Bible
Chapter 18
7As they danced, the women sang: Saul has killed his thousands, but David his tens of thousands.
8Saul was furious and resented this song. "They credited tens of thousands to David," he complained, "but they only credited me with thousands. What more can he have but the kingdom? "
9So Saul watched David jealously from that day forward.
10The next day an evil spirit sent from God came powerfully on Saul, and he began to rave inside the palace. David was playing the lyre as usual, but Saul was holding a spear,
11and he threw it, thinking, "I'll pin David to the wall." But David got away from him twice.
12Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with David but had left Saul.
13Therefore, Saul sent David away from him and made him commander over a thousand men. David led the troops
14and continued to be successful in all his activities because the Lord was with him.
15When Saul observed that David was very successful, he dreaded him.
16But all Israel and Judah loved David because he was leading their troops.
17Saul told David, "Here is my oldest daughter Merab. I'll give her to you as a wife if you will be a warrior for me and fight the Lord's battles." But Saul was thinking, "I don't need to raise a hand against him; let the hand of the Philistines be against him."
18Then David responded, "Who am I, and what is my family or my father's clan in Israel that I should become the king's son-in-law? "
19When it was time to give Saul's daughter Merab to David, she was given to Adriel the Meholathite as a wife.
New Living Translation
8This made Saul very angry. 'What’s this?' he said. 'They credit David with ten thousands and me with only thousands. Next they’ll be making him their king!'
9So from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David.
10The very next day a tormenting spirit from God overwhelmed Saul, and he began to rave in his house like a madman. David was playing the harp, as he did each day. But Saul had a spear in his hand,
11and he suddenly hurled it at David, intending to pin him to the wall. But David escaped him twice.
12Saul was then afraid of David, for the Lord was with David and had turned away from Saul.
13Finally, Saul sent him away and appointed him commander over 1,000 men, and David faithfully led his troops into battle.
14David continued to succeed in everything he did, for the Lord was with him.
15When Saul recognized this, he became even more afraid of him.
16But all Israel and Judah loved David because he was so successful at leading his troops into battle.
18Who am I, and what is my family in Israel that I should be the king’s son-in-law?' David exclaimed. 'My father’s family is nothing!'
19So when the time came for Saul to give his daughter Merab in marriage to David, he gave her instead to Adriel, a man from Meholah.
English Standard Version
8And Saul was very angry, and this saying displeased him. He said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed thousands, and what more can he have but the kingdom?”
9And Saul eyed David from that day on.
10The next day a harmful spirit from God rushed upon Saul, and he raved within his house while David was playing the lyre, as he did day by day. Saul had his spear in his hand.
11And Saul hurled the spear, for he thought, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David evaded him twice.
12Saul was afraid of David because the LORD was with him but had departed from Saul.
13So Saul removed him from his presence and made him a commander of a thousand. And he went out and came in before the people.
14And David had success in all his undertakings, for the LORD was with him.
15And when Saul saw that he had great success, he stood in fearful awe of him.
16But all Israel and Judah loved David, for he went out and came in before them.
17Then Saul said to David, “Here is my elder daughter Merab. I will give her to you for a wife. Only be valiant for me and fight the LORD’s battles.” For Saul thought, “Let not my hand be against him, but let the hand of the Philistines be against him.”
18And David said to Saul, “Who am I, and who are my relatives, my father’s clan in Israel, that I should be son-in-law to the king?”
19But at the time when Merab, Saul’s daughter, should have been given to David, she was given to Adriel the Meholathite for a wife.
20Now Saul’s daughter Michal loved David. And they told Saul, and the thing pleased him.
21Saul thought, “Let me give her to him, that she may be a snare for him and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” Therefore Saul said to David a second time, “You shall now be my son-in-law.”
22And Saul commanded his servants, “Speak to David in private and say, ‘Behold, the king has delight in you, and all his servants love you. Now then become the king’s son-in-law.’”
23And Saul’s servants spoke those words in the ears of David. And David said, “Does it seem to you a little thing to become the king’s son-in-law, since I am a poor man and have no reputation?”
24And the servants of Saul told him, “Thus and so did David speak.”
25Then Saul said, “Thus shall you say to David, ‘The king desires no bride-price except a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, that he may be avenged of the king’s enemies.’” Now Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.
New International Version
Chapter 18
7As they danced, they sang: 'Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.'
8Saul was very angry; this refrain displeased him greatly. 'They have credited David with tens of thousands,' he thought, 'but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?'
9And from that time on Saul kept a close eye on David.
10The next day an evil spirit from God came forcefully on Saul. He was prophesying in his house, while David was playing the lyre, as he usually did. Saul had a spear in his hand
11and he hurled it, saying to himself, 'I'll pin David to the wall.' But David eluded him twice.
12Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with David but had departed from Saul.
13So he sent David away from him and gave him command over a thousand men, and David led the troops in their campaigns.
14In everything he did he had great success, because the LORD was with him.
15When Saul saw how successful he was, he was afraid of him.
16But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he led them in their campaigns.
18But David said to Saul, 'Who am I, and what is my family or my clan in Israel, that I should become the king's son-in-law?'
19So when the time came for Merab, Saul's daughter, to be given to David, she was given in marriage to Adriel of Meholah.
20Now Saul's daughter Michal was in love with David, and when they told Saul about it, he was pleased.
21I will give her to him,' he thought, 'so that she may be a snare to him and so that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.' So Saul said to David, 'Now you have a second opportunity to become my son-in-law.'
New King James Version
8Then Saul was very angry, and the saying displeased him; and he said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed only thousands. Now what more can he have but the kingdom?”
9So Saul eyed David from that day forward.
10And it happened on the next day that the distressing spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied inside the house. So David played music with his hand, as at other times; but there was a spear in Saul’s hand.
11And Saul cast the spear, for he said, “I will pin David to the wall!” But David escaped his presence twice.
12Now Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with him, but had departed from Saul.
13Therefore Saul removed him from his presence, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people.
14And David behaved wisely in all his ways, and the Lord was with him.
15Therefore, when Saul saw that he behaved very wisely, he was afraid of him.
16But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them.
18So David said to Saul, “Who am I, and what is my life or my father’s family in Israel, that I should be son-in-law to the king?”
19But it happened at the time when Merab, Saul’s daughter, should have been given to David, that she was given to Adriel the Meholathite as a wife.
20Now Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved David. And they told Saul, and the thing pleased him.
21So Saul said, “I will give her to him, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” Therefore Saul said to David a second time, “You shall be my son-in-law today.”
