1 Samuel 20 – read and compare multiple versions of the Bible

World English Bible

1 Samuel 20 (WEBP)

[1] David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and came and said to Jonathan, “What have I done? What is my iniquity? What is my sin before your father, that he seeks my life?”
[2] He said to him, “Far from it; you will not die. Behold, my father does nothing either great or small, but that he discloses it to me. Why would my father hide this thing from me? It is not so.”
[3] David swore moreover, and said, “Your father knows well that I have found favor in your eyes; and he says, ‘Don’t let Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved;’ but truly as Yahweh lives, and as your soul lives, there is but a step between me and death.”
[4] Then Jonathan said to David, “Whatever your soul desires, I will even do it for you.”
[5] David said to Jonathan, “Behold, tomorrow is the new moon, and I should not fail to dine with the king; but let me go, that I may hide myself in the field to the third day at evening.
[6] If your father misses me at all, then say, ‘David earnestly asked leave of me that he might run to Bethlehem, his city; for it is the yearly sacrifice there for all the family.’
[7] If he says, ‘It is well,’ your servant shall have peace; but if he is angry, then know that evil is determined by him.
[8] Therefore deal kindly with your servant, for you have brought your servant into a covenant of Yahweh with you; but if there is iniquity in me, kill me yourself, for why should you bring me to your father?”
[9] Jonathan said, “Far be it from you; for if I should at all know that evil were determined by my father to come on you, then wouldn’t I tell you that?”
[10] Then David said to Jonathan, “Who will tell me if your father answers you roughly?”
[11] Jonathan said to David, “Come! Let’s go out into the field.” They both went out into the field.
[12] Jonathan said to David, “By Yahweh, the God of Israel, when I have sounded out my father about this time tomorrow, or the third day, behold, if there is good toward David, won’t I then send to you and disclose it to you?
[13] Yahweh do so to Jonathan and more also, should it please my father to do you evil, if I don’t disclose it to you and send you away, that you may go in peace. May Yahweh be with you as he has been with my father.
[14] You shall not only show me the loving kindness of Yahweh while I still live, that I not die;
[15] but you shall also not cut off your kindness from my house forever, no, not when Yahweh has cut off every one of the enemies of David from the surface of the earth.”
[16] So Jonathan made a covenant with David’s house, saying, “Yahweh will require it at the hand of David’s enemies.”
[17] Jonathan caused David to swear again, for the love that he had to him; for he loved him as he loved his own soul.
[18] Then Jonathan said to him, “Tomorrow is the new moon, and you will be missed, because your seat will be empty.
[19] When you have stayed three days, go down quickly and come to the place where you hid yourself when this started, and remain by the stone Ezel.
[20] I will shoot three arrows on its side, as though I shot at a mark.
[21] Behold, I will send the boy, saying, ‘Go, find the arrows!’ If I tell the boy, ‘Behold, the arrows are on this side of you. Take them;’ then come, for there is peace to you and no danger, as Yahweh lives.
[22] But if I say this to the boy, ‘Behold, the arrows are beyond you,’ then go your way, for Yahweh has sent you away.
[23] Concerning the matter which you and I have spoken of, behold, Yahweh is between you and me forever.”
[24] So David hid himself in the field. When the new moon had come, the king sat himself down to eat food.
[25] The king sat on his seat, as at other times, even on the seat by the wall; and Jonathan stood up, and Abner sat by Saul’s side, but David’s place was empty.
[26] Nevertheless Saul didn’t say anything that day, for he thought, “Something has happened to him. He is not clean. Surely he is not clean.”
[27] On the next day after the new moon, the second day, David’s place was empty. Saul said to Jonathan his son, “Why didn’t the son of Jesse come to eat, either yesterday, or today?”
[28] Jonathan answered Saul, “David earnestly asked permission of me to go to Bethlehem.
[29] He said, ‘Please let me go, for our family has a sacrifice in the city. My brother has commanded me to be there. Now, if I have found favor in your eyes, please let me go away and see my brothers.’ Therefore he has not come to the king’s table.”
[30] Then Saul’s anger burned against Jonathan, and he said to him, “You son of a perverse rebellious woman, don’t I know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to your own shame, and to the shame of your mother’s nakedness?
[31] For as long as the son of Jesse lives on the earth, you will not be established, nor will your kingdom. Therefore now send and bring him to me, for he shall surely die!”
[32] Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said to him, “Why should he be put to death? What has he done?”
[33] Saul cast his spear at him to strike him. By this Jonathan knew that his father was determined to put David to death.
[34] So Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger, and ate no food the second day of the month; for he was grieved for David, because his father had treated him shamefully.
[35] In the morning, Jonathan went out into the field at the time appointed with David, and a little boy with him.
[36] He said to his boy, “Run, find now the arrows which I shoot.” As the boy ran, he shot an arrow beyond him.
[37] When the boy had come to the place of the arrow which Jonathan had shot, Jonathan cried after the boy, and said, “Isn’t the arrow beyond you?”
[38] Jonathan cried after the boy, “Go fast! Hurry! Don’t delay!” Jonathan’s boy gathered up the arrows, and came to his master.
[39] But the boy didn’t know anything. Only Jonathan and David knew the matter.
[40] Jonathan gave his weapons to his boy, and said to him, “Go, carry them to the city.”
[41] As soon as the boy was gone, David arose out of the south, and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times. They kissed one another and wept with one another, and David wept the most.
[42] Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, because we have both sworn in Yahweh’s name, saying, ‘Yahweh is between me and you, and between my offspring and your offspring, forever.’ ” He arose and departed; and Jonathan went into the city.

Scripture quotations are taken from The World English Bible™ of eBible.org, 2020 stable text edition. It is in the public domain.

King James w/Strong’s #s

1 Samuel 20 (KJVS)

[1] And David fled () from Naioth in Ramah, and came () and said () before Jonathan, What have I done? () what is mine iniquity? and what is my sin before thy father, that he seeketh () my life?
[2] And he said () unto him, God forbid; thou shalt not die: () behold, my father will do () () () nothing either great or small, but that he will shew () it me: and why should my father hide () this thing from me? it is not so.
[3] And David sware () moreover, and said, () Thy father certainly () knoweth () that I have found () grace in thine eyes; and he saith, () Let not Jonathan know () this, lest he be grieved: () but truly as the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, there is but a step between me and death.
[4] Then said () Jonathan unto David, Whatsoever thy soul desireth, () I will even do () it for thee.
[5] And David said () unto Jonathan, Behold, to morrow is the new moon, and I should not fail () to sit () with the king at meat: () but let me go, () that I may hide () myself in the field unto the third day at even.
[6] If thy father at all () miss () me, then say, () David earnestly () asked () leave of me that he might run () to Beth-lehem his city: for there is a yearly sacrifice there for all the family.
[7] If he say () thus, It is well; thy servant shall have peace: but if he be very () wroth, () then be sure () that evil is determined () by him.
[8] Therefore thou shalt deal () kindly with thy servant; for thou hast brought () thy servant into a covenant of the Lord with thee: notwithstanding, if there be in me iniquity, slay () me thyself; for why shouldest thou bring () me to thy father?
[9] And Jonathan said, () Far be it from thee: for if I knew () certainly () that evil were determined () by my father to come () upon thee, then would not I tell () it thee?
[10] Then said () David to Jonathan, Who shall tell () me? or what if thy father answer () thee roughly?
[11] And Jonathan said () unto David, Come, () and let us go out () into the field. And they went out () both of them into the field.
[12] And Jonathan said () unto David, O Lord God of Israel, when I have sounded () my father about to morrow any time, or the third day, and, behold, if there be good () toward David, and I then send () not unto thee, and shew () it thee;
[13] the Lord do () so and much more () to Jonathan: but if it please () my father to do thee evil, then I will shew () it thee, and send thee away, () that thou mayest go () in peace: and the Lord be with thee, as he hath been with my father.
[14] And thou shalt not only while yet I live shew () me the kindness of the Lord, that I die () not:
[15] but also thou shalt not cut off () thy kindness from my house for ever: no, not when the Lord hath cut off () the enemies () of David every one from the face of the earth.
[16] So Jonathan made () a covenant with the house of David, saying, Let the Lord even require () it at the hand of David’s enemies. ()
[17] And Jonathan caused David to swear () again, () because he loved him: for he loved () him as he loved his own soul.
[18] Then Jonathan said () to David, To morrow is the new moon: and thou shalt be missed, () because thy seat will be empty. ()
[19] And when thou hast stayed three days, () then thou shalt go down () quickly, and come () to the place where thou didst hide () thyself when the business was in hand, and shalt remain () by the stone Ezel.
[20] And I will shoot () three arrows on the side thereof, as though I shot () at a mark.
[21] And, behold, I will send () a lad, saying, Go, () find out () the arrows. If I expressly () say () unto the lad, Behold, the arrows are on this side of thee, take () them; then come () thou: for there is peace to thee, and no hurt; as the Lord liveth.
[22] But if I say () thus unto the young man, Behold, the arrows are beyond thee; go thy way: () for the Lord hath sent thee away. ()
[23] And as touching the matter which thou and I have spoken () of, behold, the Lord be between thee and me for ever.
[24] So David hid () himself in the field: and when the new moon was come, the king sat him down () to eat () meat.
[25] And the king sat () upon his seat, as at other times, even upon a seat by the wall: and Jonathan arose, () and Abner sat () by Saul’s side, and David’s place was empty. ()
[26] Nevertheless Saul spake () not any thing that day: for he thought, () Something hath befallen him, he is not clean; surely he is not clean.
[27] And it came to pass on the morrow, which was the second day of the month, that David’s place was empty: () and Saul said () unto Jonathan his son, Wherefore cometh () not the son of Jesse to meat, neither yesterday, nor to day?
[28] And Jonathan answered () Saul, David earnestly () asked () leave of me to go to Beth-lehem:
[29] and he said, () Let me go, () I pray thee; for our family hath a sacrifice in the city; and my brother, he hath commanded () me to be there: and now, if I have found () favour in thine eyes, let me get away, () I pray thee, and see () my brethren. Therefore he cometh () not unto the king’s table.
[30] Then Saul’s anger was kindled () against Jonathan, and he said () unto him, Thou son of the perverse () rebellious woman, do not I know () that thou hast chosen () the son of Jesse to thine own confusion, and unto the confusion of thy mother’s nakedness?
[31] For as long as the son of Jesse liveth () upon the ground, thou shalt not be established, () nor thy kingdom. Wherefore now send () and fetch () him unto me, for he shall surely die.
[32] And Jonathan answered () Saul his father, and said () unto him, Wherefore shall he be slain? () what hath he done? ()
[33] And Saul cast () a javelin at him to smite () him: whereby Jonathan knew () that it was determined of his father to slay () David.
[34] So Jonathan arose () from the table in fierce anger, and did eat () no meat the second day of the month: for he was grieved () for David, because his father had done him shame. ()
[35] And it came to pass in the morning, that Jonathan went out () into the field at the time appointed with David, and a little lad with him.
[36] And he said () unto his lad, Run, () find out () now the arrows which I shoot. () And as the lad ran, () he shot () an arrow beyond () him.
[37] And when the lad was come () to the place of the arrow which Jonathan had shot, () Jonathan cried () after the lad, and said, () Is not the arrow beyond thee?
[38] And Jonathan cried () after the lad, Make speed, haste, () stay () not. And Jonathan’s lad gathered up () the arrows, () and came () to his master.
[39] But the lad knew () not any thing: only Jonathan and David knew () the matter.
[40] And Jonathan gave () his artillery unto his lad, and said () unto him, Go, () carry () them to the city.
[41] And as soon as the lad was gone, () David arose () out of a place toward the south, and fell () on his face to the ground, and bowed () himself three times: and they kissed () one another, and wept () one with another, until David exceeded. ()
[42] And Jonathan said () to David, Go () in peace, forasmuch as we have sworn () both of us in the name of the Lord, saying, () The Lord be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever. And he arose () and departed: () and Jonathan went () into the city.

1 Samuel 20:2 Heb. uncover mine ear
1 Samuel 20:4a Or, say what is thy mind, and I will do, etc.
1 Samuel 20:4b Heb. speaketh, or thinketh
1 Samuel 20:6 Or, feast
1 Samuel 20:12a Heb. searched
1 Samuel 20:12b Heb. uncover thine ear
1 Samuel 20:16 Heb. cut
1 Samuel 20:17 Or, by his love towards him
1 Samuel 20:18 Heb. missed
1 Samuel 20:19a Or, diligently: Heb. greatly
1 Samuel 20:19b Heb. in the day of the business
1 Samuel 20:19c Or, that showeth the way
1 Samuel 20:21 Heb. not any thing
1 Samuel 20:30 Or, thou perverse rebell. Heb. son of perverse rebellion
1 Samuel 20:31 Heb. is the son of death
1 Samuel 20:36 Heb. to pass over him
1 Samuel 20:40a Heb. instruments
1 Samuel 20:40b Heb. that was his
1 Samuel 20:42 Or, The LORD be witness of that which, etc.

Scripture quotations from The Authorized King James Version of the Holy Bible, using the standardized text of 1769. It is in the public domain.

Greek Bible (LXX/BYZ)

1 Samuel 20 (BYZ)

[1] και απεδρα δαυιδ εκ ναυαθ εν ραμα και ερχεται ενωπιον ιωναθαν και ειπεν τι πεποιηκα και τι το αδικημα μου και τι ημαρτηκα ενωπιον του πατρος σου οτι επιζητει την ψυχην μου
[2] και ειπεν αυτω ιωναθαν μηδαμως σοι ου μη αποθανης ιδου ου μη ποιηση ο πατηρ μου ρημα μεγα η μικρον και ουκ αποκαλυψει το ωτιον μου και τι οτι κρυψει ο πατηρ μου το ρημα τουτο ουκ εστιν τουτο
[3] και απεκριθη δαυιδ τω ιωναθαν και ειπεν γινωσκων οιδεν ο πατηρ σου οτι ευρηκα χαριν εν οφθαλμοις σου και ειπεν μη γνωτω τουτο ιωναθαν μη ου βουληται αλλα ζη κυριος και ζη η ψυχη σου οτι καθως ειπον εμπεπλησται ανα μεσον μου και του θανατου
[4] και ειπεν ιωναθαν προς δαυιδ τι επιθυμει η ψυχη σου και τι ποιησω σοι
[5] και ειπεν δαυιδ προς ιωναθαν ιδου δη νεομηνια αυριον και εγω καθισας ου καθησομαι μετα του βασιλεως φαγειν και εξαποστελεις με και κρυβησομαι εν τω πεδιω εως δειλης
[6] εαν επισκεπτομενος επισκεψηται με ο πατηρ σου και ερεις παραιτουμενος παρητησατο απ εμου δαυιδ δραμειν εως εις βηθλεεμ την πολιν αυτου οτι θυσια των ημερων εκει ολη τη φυλη
[7] εαν ταδε ειπη αγαθως ειρηνη τω δουλω σου και εαν σκληρως αποκριθη σοι γνωθι οτι συντετελεσται η κακια παρ αυτου
[8] και ποιησεις ελεος μετα του δουλου σου οτι εισηγαγες εις διαθηκην κυριου τον δουλον σου μετα σεαυτου και ει εστιν αδικια εν τω δουλω σου θανατωσον με συ και εως του πατρος σου ινα τι ουτως εισαγεις με
[9] και ειπεν ιωναθαν μηδαμως σοι οτι εαν γινωσκων γνω οτι συντετελεσται η κακια παρα του πατρος μου του ελθειν επι σε και εαν μη εις τας πολεις σου εγω απαγγελω σοι
[10] και ειπεν δαυιδ προς ιωναθαν τις απαγγελει μοι εαν αποκριθη ο πατηρ σου σκληρως
[11] και ειπεν ιωναθαν προς δαυιδ πορευου και μενε εις αγρον και εκπορευονται αμφοτεροι εις αγρον
[12] και ειπεν ιωναθαν προς δαυιδ κυριος ο θεος ισραηλ οιδεν οτι ανακρινω τον πατερα μου ως αν ο καιρος τρισσως και ιδου αγαθον η περι δαυιδ και ου μη αποστειλω προς σε εις αγρον
[13] ταδε ποιησαι ο θεος τω ιωναθαν και ταδε προσθειη οτι ανοισω τα κακα επι σε και αποκαλυψω το ωτιον σου και εξαποστελω σε και απελευση εις ειρηνην και εσται κυριος μετα σου καθως ην μετα του πατρος μου
[14] και μεν ετι μου ζωντος και ποιησεις ελεος μετ εμου και εαν θανατω αποθανω
[15] ουκ εξαρεις ελεος σου απο του οικου μου εως του αιωνος και ει μη εν τω εξαιρειν κυριον τους εχθρους δαυιδ εκαστον απο προσωπου της γης
[16] εξαρθηναι το ονομα του ιωναθαν απο του οικου δαυιδ και εκζητησαι κυριος εχθρους του δαυιδ
[17] και προσεθετο ετι ιωναθαν ομοσαι τω δαυιδ οτι ηγαπησεν ψυχην αγαπωντος αυτον
[18] και ειπεν ιωναθαν αυριον νουμηνια και επισκεπηση οτι επισκεπησεται καθεδρα σου
[19] και τρισσευσεις και επισκεψη και ηξεις εις τον τοπον σου ου εκρυβης εν τη ημερα τη εργασιμη και καθηση παρα το εργαβ εκεινο
[20] και εγω τρισσευσω ταις σχιζαις ακοντιζων εκπεμπων εις την αματταρι
[21] και ιδου αποστελω το παιδαριον λεγων δευρο ευρε μοι την σχιζαν εαν ειπω λεγων τω παιδαριω ωδε η σχιζα απο σου και ωδε λαβε αυτην παραγινου οτι ειρηνη σοι και ουκ εστιν λογος ζη κυριος
[22] εαν ταδε ειπω τω νεανισκω ωδε η σχιζα απο σου και επεκεινα πορευου οτι εξαπεσταλκεν σε κυριος
[23] και το ρημα ο ελαλησαμεν εγω και συ ιδου κυριος μαρτυς ανα μεσον εμου και σου εως αιωνος
[24] και κρυπτεται δαυιδ εν αγρω και παραγινεται ο μην και ερχεται ο βασιλευς επι την τραπεζαν του φαγειν
[25] και εκαθισεν ο βασιλευς επι την καθεδραν αυτου ως απαξ και απαξ επι της καθεδρας παρα τοιχον και προεφθασεν τον ιωναθαν και εκαθισεν αβεννηρ εκ πλαγιων σαουλ και επεσκεπη ο τοπος δαυιδ
[26] και ουκ ελαλησεν σαουλ ουδεν εν τη ημερα εκεινη οτι ειπεν συμπτωμα φαινεται μη καθαρος ειναι οτι ου κεκαθαρισται
[27] και εγενηθη τη επαυριον του μηνος τη ημερα τη δευτερα και επεσκεπη ο τοπος του δαυιδ και ειπεν σαουλ προς ιωναθαν τον υιον αυτου τι οτι ου παραγεγονεν ο υιος ιεσσαι και εχθες και σημερον επι την τραπεζαν
[28] και απεκριθη ιωναθαν τω σαουλ και ειπεν αυτω παρητηται δαυιδ παρ εμου εως εις βηθλεεμ την πολιν αυτου πορευθηναι
[29] και ειπεν εξαποστειλον δη με οτι θυσια της φυλης ημιν εν τη πολει και ενετειλαντο προς με οι αδελφοι μου και νυν ει ευρηκα χαριν εν οφθαλμοις σου διασωθησομαι δη και οψομαι τους αδελφους μου δια τουτο ου παραγεγονεν επι την τραπεζαν του βασιλεως
[30] και εθυμωθη οργη σαουλ επι ιωναθαν σφοδρα και ειπεν αυτω υιε κορασιων αυτομολουντων ου γαρ οιδα οτι μετοχος ει συ τω υιω ιεσσαι εις αισχυνην σου και εις αισχυνην αποκαλυψεως μητρος σου
[31] οτι πασας τας ημερας ας ο υιος ιεσσαι ζη επι της γης ουχ ετοιμασθησεται η βασιλεια σου νυν ουν αποστειλας λαβε τον νεανιαν οτι υιος θανατου ουτος
[32] και απεκριθη ιωναθαν τω σαουλ ινα τι αποθνησκει τι πεποιηκεν
[33] και επηρεν σαουλ το δορυ επι ιωναθαν του θανατωσαι αυτον και εγνω ιωναθαν οτι συντετελεσται η κακια αυτη παρα του πατρος αυτου θανατωσαι τον δαυιδ
[34] και ανεπηδησεν ιωναθαν απο της τραπεζης εν οργη θυμου και ουκ εφαγεν εν τη δευτερα του μηνος αρτον οτι εθραυσθη επι τον δαυιδ οτι συνετελεσεν επ αυτον ο πατηρ αυτου
[35] και εγενηθη πρωι και εξηλθεν ιωναθαν εις αγρον καθως εταξατο εις το μαρτυριον δαυιδ και παιδαριον μικρον μετ αυτου
[36] και ειπεν τω παιδαριω δραμε ευρε μοι τας σχιζας εν αις εγω ακοντιζω και το παιδαριον εδραμε και αυτος ηκοντιζε τη σχιζη και παρηγαγεν αυτην
[37] και ηλθεν το παιδαριον εως του τοπου της σχιζης ου ηκοντιζεν ιωναθαν και ανεβοησεν ιωναθαν οπισω του νεανιου και ειπεν εκει η σχιζα απο σου και επεκεινα
[38] και ανεβοησεν ιωναθαν οπισω του παιδαριου αυτου λεγων ταχυνας σπευσον και μη στης και ανελεξεν το παιδαριον ιωναθαν τας σχιζας προς τον κυριον αυτου
[39] και το παιδαριον ουκ εγνω ουθεν παρεξ ιωναθαν και δαυιδ εγνωσαν το ρημα
[40] και ιωναθαν εδωκεν τα σκευη αυτου επι το παιδαριον αυτου και ειπεν τω παιδαριω αυτου πορευου εισελθε εις την πολιν
[41] και ως εισηλθεν το παιδαριον και δαυιδ ανεστη απο του εργαβ και επεσεν επι προσωπον αυτου και προσεκυνησεν αυτω τρις και κατεφιλησεν εκαστος τον πλησιον αυτου και εκλαυσεν εκαστος τω πλησιον αυτου εως συντελειας μεγαλης
[42] και ειπεν ιωναθαν πορευου εις ειρηνην και ως ομωμοκαμεν ημεις αμφοτεροι εν ονοματι κυριου λεγοντες κυριος εσται μαρτυς ανα μεσον εμου και σου και ανα μεσον του σπερματος μου και ανα μεσον του σπερματος σου εως αιωνος [21:1] και ανεστη δαυιδ και απηλθεν και ιωναθαν εισηλθεν εις την πολιν

Scripture quotations from the 2018 Robinson-Pierpont edition of the Greek New Testament in the Original Greek, Byzantine Majority Text. It is in the public domain.