David and Jonathan’s Friendship

1 As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan ^dloved him as his own soul. 2 And Saul took him that day ^eand would not let him return to his father’s house. 3 Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because ^dhe loved him as his own soul. 4 And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt. 5 And David went out ^fand was successful wherever Saul sent him, so that Saul set him over the men of war. And this was good in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul’s servants.

Saul’s Jealousy of David

6 As they were coming home, when David returned from striking down the Philistine, ^gthe women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with songs of joy, and with musical instruments.¹ 7 And the women ^hsang to one another as they celebrated,

8 And 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 ^jthe kingdom?” 9 And Saul eyed David from that day on.

10 The next day ^ka harmful spirit from God rushed upon Saul, and ^lhe raved within his house while David was ^mplaying the lyre, as he did day by day. ⁿSaul had his spear in his hand. 11 And Saul ^ohurled the spear, for he thought, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David evaded him twice.

12 ^pSaul was afraid of David because ^qthe Lord was with him ^rbut had departed from Saul. 13 So Saul removed him from his presence and made him a commander of a thousand. ^sAnd he went out and came in before the people. 14 And David ^thad success in all his undertakings, ^qfor the Lord was with him. 15 And when Saul saw that ^the had great success, he stood in fearful awe of him. 16 ^uBut all Israel and Judah loved David, for he went out and came in before them.

David Marries Michal

17 Then Saul said to David, “Here is ^vmy elder daughter Merab. ^wI will give her to you for a wife. Only be valiant for me ^xand fight the Lord’s battles.” For Saul thought, “Let not my hand be against him, ^ybut let the hand of the Philistines be against him.” 18 And David said to Saul, ^z“Who am I, and who are my relatives, my father’s clan in Israel, that I should be son-in-law to the king?” 19 But at the time when Merab, Saul’s daughter, should have been given to David, she was given to ^aAdriel the ^bMeholathite for a wife.

20 Now ^vSaul’s daughter Michal ^cloved David. And they told Saul, and the thing pleased him. 21 Saul thought, “Let me give her to him, that she may ^dbe a snare for him ^eand that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” Therefore Saul said to David a second time,^{2 f}“You shall now be my son-in-law.” 22 And 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.’” 23 And Saul’s servants spoke those words in the ears of David. And David said, ^g“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?” 24 And the servants of Saul told him, “Thus and so did David speak.” 25 Then Saul said, “Thus shall you say to David, ‘The king desires no ^hbride-price except a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, ⁱthat he may be avenged of the king’s enemies.’” ^jNow Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines. 26 And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king’s son-in-law. ^kBefore the time had expired, 27 David arose and went, ^lalong with his men, and killed two hundred of the Philistines. ^mAnd David brought their foreskins, which were given in full number to the king, that he might become the king’s son-in-law. And Saul gave him his daughter Michal for a wife. 28 But when Saul saw and knew that ⁿthe Lord was with David, ^oand that Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved him, 29 Saul was even more afraid of David. So Saul was David’s enemy continually.

30 ^pThen the commanders of the Philistines came out to battle, and as often as they came out ^qDavid had more success than all the servants of Saul, so that his name was highly esteemed.

Personal Greetings

1 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant¹ of the church at ^pCenchreae, 2 that you ^qmay welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well.

3 Greet ^rPrisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, 4 who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well. 5 Greet also ^sthe church in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was ^tthe first convert² to Christ in Asia. 6 Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you. 7 Greet Andronicus and Junia,³ my kinsmen and my ^ufellow prisoners. They are well known to the apostles,⁴ and they were in Christ before me. 8 Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord. 9 Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my beloved Stachys. 10 Greet Apelles, who is approved in Christ. Greet those ^vwho belong to the family of Aristobulus. 11 Greet my kinsman Herodion. Greet those in the Lord who belong to the family of Narcissus. 12 Greet those workers in the Lord, Tryphaena and Tryphosa. Greet the beloved Persis, who has worked hard in the Lord. 13 Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord; also his mother, who has been a mother to me as well. 14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers⁵ who are with them. 15 Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them. 16 ^wGreet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.

Final Instructions and Greetings

17 I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles ^xcontrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; ^yavoid them. 18 For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but ^ztheir own appetites,⁶ and ^aby smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. 19 For ^byour obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you ^cto be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil. 20 ^dThe God of peace ^ewill soon crush Satan under your feet. ^fThe grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

21 ^gTimothy, my fellow worker, greets you; so do Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my kinsmen.

22 I Tertius, ^hwho wrote this letter, greet you in the Lord.

23 ⁱGaius, who is host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer, and our brother Quartus, greet you.⁷

Doxology

25 ^jNow to him who is able to strengthen you ^kaccording to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, ^laccording to the revelation of the mystery ^mthat was kept secret for ⁿlong ages 26 but ^ohas now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, ^pto bring about the obedience of faith— 27 to ^qthe only wise God ^rbe glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.

Great Is Your Faithfulness

Taste and See That the Lord Is Good

¹ Of David, when he ⁿchanged his behavior before ^oAbimelech, so that he drove him out, and he went away.