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 H1732 fled H1272 (8799) from Naioth H5121 in Ramah H7414, and came H935 (8799) and said H559 (8799) before H6440 Jonathan H3083, What have I done H6213 (8804)? what [is] mine iniquity H5771? and what [is] my sin H2403 before H6440 thy father H1, that he seeketh H1245 (8764) my life H5315?
[2] And he said H559 (8799) unto him, God forbid H2486; thou shalt not die H4191 (8799): behold, my father H1 will do H6213 (8799) (8675) H6213 (8804) nothing H1697 either great H1419 or small H6996, but that he will shew H1540 (8799) H241 it me: and why should my father H1 hide H5641 (8686) this thing H1697 from me? it [is] not [so].
[3] And David H1732 sware H7650 (8735) moreover, and said H559 (8799), Thy father H1 certainly H3045 (8800) knoweth H3045 (8804) that I have found H4672 (8804) grace H2580 in thine eyes H5869; and he saith H559 (8799), Let not Jonathan H3083 know H3045 (8799) this, lest he be grieved H6087 (8735): but truly H199 [as] the LORD H3068 liveth H2416, and [as] thy soul H5315 liveth H2416, [there is] but a step H6587 between me and death H4194.
[4] Then said H559 (8799) Jonathan H3083 unto David H1732, Whatsoever thy soul H5315 desireth H559 (8799), I will even do H6213 (8799) [it] for thee.
[5] And David H1732 said H559 (8799) unto Jonathan H3083, Behold, to morrow H4279 [is] the new moon H2320, and I should not fail H3427 (8800) to sit H3427 (8799) with the king H4428 at meat H398 (8800): but let me go H7971 (8765), that I may hide H5641 (8738) myself in the field H7704 unto the third H7992 [day] at even H6153.
[6] If thy father H1 at all H6485 (8800) miss H6485 (8799) me, then say H559 (8804), David H1732 earnestly H7592 (8736) asked H7592 (8738) [leave] of me that he might run H7323 (8800) to Bethlehem H1035 his city H5892: for [there is] a yearly H3117 sacrifice H2077 there for all the family H4940.
[7] If he say H559 (8799) thus, [It is] well H2896; thy servant H5650 shall have peace H7965: but if he be very H2734 (8800) wroth H2734 (8799), [then] be sure H3045 (8798) that evil H7451 is determined H3615 (8804) by him.
[8] Therefore thou shalt deal H6213 (8804) kindly H2617 with thy servant H5650; for thou hast brought H935 (8689) thy servant H5650 into a covenant H1285 of the LORD H3068 with thee: notwithstanding, if there be H3426 in me iniquity H5771, slay H4191 (8685) me thyself; for why shouldest thou bring H935 (8686) me to thy father H1?
[9] And Jonathan H3083 said H559 (8799), Far be it from thee H2486: for if I knew H3045 (8799) certainly H3045 (8800) that evil H7451 were determined H3615 (8804) by my father H1 to come H935 (8800) upon thee, then would not I tell H5046 (8686) it thee?
[10] Then said H559 (8799) David H1732 to Jonathan H3083, Who shall tell H5046 (8686) me? or what [if] thy father H1 answer H6030 (8799) thee roughly H7186?
[11] And Jonathan H3083 said H559 (8799) unto David H1732, Come H3212 (8798), and let us go out H3318 (8799) into the field H7704. And they went out H3318 (8799) both H8147 of them into the field H7704.
[12] And Jonathan H3083 said H559 (8799) unto David H1732, O LORD H3068 God H430 of Israel H3478, when I have sounded H2713 (8799) my father H1 about to morrow H4279 any time H6256, [or] the third H7992 [day], and, behold, [if there be] good H2895 (8804) toward David H1732, and I then send H7971 (8799) not unto thee, and shew H1540 (8804) H241 it thee;
[13] The LORD H3068 do H6213 (8799) so H3541 and much more H3254 (8686) to Jonathan H3083: but if it please H3190 (8686) my father H1 [to do] thee evil H7451, then I will shew H1540 (8804) H241 it thee, and send thee away H7971 (8765), that thou mayest go H1980 (8804) in peace H7965: and the LORD H3068 be with thee, as he hath been with my father H1.
[14] And thou shalt not only while yet H518 I live H2416 shew H6213 (8799) me the kindness H2617 of the LORD H3068, that I die H4191 (8799) not:
[15] But [also] thou shalt not cut off H3772 (8686) thy kindness H2617 from my house H1004 for H5704 ever H5769: no, not when the LORD H3068 hath cut off H3772 (8687) the enemies H341 (8802) of David H1732 every one H376 from the face H6440 of the earth H127.
[16] So Jonathan H3083 made H3772 (8799) [a covenant] with the house H1004 of David H1732, [saying], Let the LORD H3068 even require H1245 (8765) [it] at the hand H3027 of David’s H1732 enemies H341 (8802).
[17] And Jonathan H3083 caused David H1732 to swear H7650 (8687) again H3254 (8686), because he loved H160 him: for he loved H157 (8804) him as he loved H160 his own soul H5315.
[18] Then Jonathan H3083 said H559 (8799) to David H1732, To morrow H4279 [is] the new moon H2320: and thou shalt be missed H6485 (8738), because thy seat H4186 will be empty H6485 (8735).
[19] And [when] thou hast stayed three days H8027 (8765), [then] thou shalt go down H3381 (8799) quickly H3966, and come H935 (8804) to the place H4725 where thou didst hide H5641 (8738) thyself when H3117 the business H4639 was [in hand], and shalt remain H3427 (8804) by H681 the stone H68 Ezel H237.
[20] And I will shoot H3384 (8686) three H7969 arrows H2671 on the side H6654 [thereof], as though I shot H7971 (8763) at a mark H4307.
[21] And, behold, I will send H7971 (8799) a lad H5288, [saying], Go H3212 (8798), find out H4672 (8798) the arrows H2671. If I expressly H559 (8800) say H559 (8799) unto the lad H5288, Behold, the arrows H2671 [are] on this side of thee, take H3947 (8798) them; then come H935 (8798) thou: for [there is] peace H7965 to thee, and no hurt H1697; [as] the LORD H3068 liveth H2416.
[22] But if I say H559 (8799) thus unto the young man H5958, Behold, the arrows H2671 [are] beyond H1973 thee; go thy way H3212 (8798): for the LORD H3068 hath sent thee away H7971 (8765).
[23] And [as touching] the matter H1697 which thou and I have spoken H1696 (8765) of, behold, the LORD H3068 [be] between thee and me for H5704 ever H5769.
[24] So David H1732 hid H5641 (8735) himself in the field H7704: and when the new moon H2320 was come, the king H4428 sat him down H3427 (8799) to eat H398 (8800) meat H3899.
[25] And the king H4428 sat H3427 (8799) upon his seat H4186, as at other times H6471, [even] upon a seat H4186 by the wall H7023: and Jonathan H3083 arose H6965 (8799), and Abner H74 sat H3427 (8799) by Saul’s H7586 side H6654, and David’s H1732 place H4725 was empty H6485 (8735).
[26] Nevertheless Saul H7586 spake H1696 (8765) not any thing H3972 that day H3117: for he thought H559 (8804), Something hath befallen H4745 him, he [is] not H1115 clean H2889; surely he [is] not clean H2889.
[27] And it came to pass on the morrow H4283, [which was] the second H8145 [day] of the month H2320, that David’s H1732 place H4725 was empty H6485 (8735): and Saul H7586 said H559 (8799) unto Jonathan H3083 his son H1121, Wherefore cometh H935 (8804) not the son H1121 of Jesse H3448 to meat H3899, neither yesterday H8543, nor to day H3117?
[28] And Jonathan H3083 answered H6030 (8799) Saul H7586, David H1732 earnestly H7592 (8736) asked H7592 (8738) [leave] of me H5978 [to go] to Bethlehem H1035:
[29] And he said H559 (8799), Let me go H7971 (8761), I pray thee; for our family H4940 hath a sacrifice H2077 in the city H5892; and my brother H251, he hath commanded H6680 (8765) me [to be there]: and now, if I have found H4672 (8804) favour H2580 in thine eyes H5869, let me get away H4422 (8735), I pray thee, and see H7200 (8799) my brethren H251. Therefore he cometh H935 (8804) not unto the king’s H4428 table H7979.
[30] Then Saul’s H7586 anger H639 was kindled H2734 (8799) against Jonathan H3083, and he said H559 (8799) unto him, Thou son H1121 of the perverse H5753 (8737) rebellious H4780 [woman], do not I know H3045 (8804) that thou hast chosen H977 (8802) the son H1121 of Jesse H3448 to thine own confusion H1322, and unto the confusion H1322 of thy mother’s H517 nakedness H6172?
[31] For as long as H3117 the son H1121 of Jesse H3448 liveth H2425 (8804) upon the ground H127, thou shalt not be established H3559 (8735), nor thy kingdom H4438. Wherefore now send H7971 (8798) and fetch H3947 (8798) him unto me, for he shall surely die H1121 H4194.
[32] And Jonathan H3083 answered H6030 (8799) Saul H7586 his father H1, and said H559 (8799) unto him, Wherefore shall he be slain H4191 (8714)? what hath he done H6213 (8804)?
[33] And Saul H7586 cast H2904 (8686) a javelin H2595 at him to smite H5221 (8687) him: whereby Jonathan H3083 knew H3045 (8799) that it was determined H3617 of his father H1 to slay H4191 (8687) David H1732.
[34] So Jonathan H3083 arose H6965 (8799) from the table H7979 in fierce H2750 anger H639, and did eat H398 (8804) no meat H3899 the second H8145 day H3117 of the month H2320: for he was grieved H6087 (8738) for David H1732, because his father H1 had done him shame H3637 (8689).
[35] And it came to pass in the morning H1242, that Jonathan H3083 went out H3318 (8799) into the field H7704 at the time appointed H4150 with David H1732, and a little H6996 lad H5288 with him.
[36] And he said H559 (8799) unto his lad H5288, Run H7323 (8798), find out H4672 (8798) now the arrows H2671 which I shoot H3384 (8688). [And] as the lad H5288 ran H7323 (8801), he shot H3384 (8804) an arrow H2678 beyond H5674 (8687) him.
[37] And when the lad H5288 was come H935 (8799) to the place H4725 of the arrow H2678 which Jonathan H3083 had shot H3384 (8804), Jonathan H3083 cried H7121 (8799) after H310 the lad H5288, and said H559 (8799), [Is] not the arrow H2678 beyond H1973 thee?
[38] And Jonathan H3083 cried H7121 (8799) after H310 the lad H5288, Make speed H4120, haste H2363 (8798), stay H5975 (8799) not. And Jonathan’s H3083 lad H5288 gathered up H3950 (8762) the arrows H2671 (8675) H2678, and came H935 (8799) to his master H113.
[39] But the lad H5288 knew H3045 (8804) not any thing H3972: only Jonathan H3083 and David H1732 knew H3045 (8804) the matter H1697.
[40] And Jonathan H3083 gave H5414 (8799) his artillery H3627 unto his lad H5288, and said H559 (8799) unto him, Go H3212 (8798), carry H935 (8685) [them] to the city H5892.
[41] [And] as soon as the lad H5288 was gone H935 (8802), David H1732 arose H6965 (8804) out of [a place] toward H681 the south H5045, and fell H5307 (8799) on his face H639 to the ground H776, and bowed H7812 (8691) himself three H7969 times H6471: and they kissed H5401 (8799) one H376 another H7453, and wept H1058 (8799) one H376 with another H7453, until David H1732 exceeded H1431 (8689).
[42] And Jonathan H3083 said H559 (8799) to David H1732, Go H3212 (8798) in peace H7965, forasmuch as we have sworn H7650 (8738) both H8147 of us in the name H8034 of the LORD H3068, saying H559 (8800), The LORD H3068 be between me and thee, and between my seed H2233 and thy seed H2233 for H5704 ever H5769. And he arose H6965 (8799) and departed H3212 (8799): and Jonathan H3083 went H935 (8802) into the city H5892.
Young’s Literal Translation
1 Samuel 20 (YLT)
[1] And David fleeth from Naioth in Ramah, and cometh, and saith before Jonathan, ‘What have I done? what is mine iniquity? and what my sin before thy father, that he is seeking my life?’
[2] And he saith to him, ‘Far be it! thou dost not die; lo, my father doth not do anything great or small and doth not uncover mine ear; and wherefore doth my father hide from me this thing? this thing is not.’
[3] And David sweareth again, and saith, ‘Thy father hath certainly known that I have found grace in thine eyes, and he saith, Let not Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved; and yet, Jehovah liveth, and thy soul liveth, but-as a step between me and death.’
[4] And Jonathan saith to David, ‘What doth thy soul say?-and I do it for thee.’
[5] And David saith unto Jonathan, ‘Lo, the new moon is to-morrow; and I do certainly sit with the king to eat; and thou hast sent me away, and I have been hidden in a field till the third evening;
[6] if thy father at all look after me, and thou hast said, David asked earnestly of me to run to Beth-Lehem his city, for a sacrifice of the days is there for all the family.
[7] If thus he say: Good; peace is for thy servant; and if it be very displeasing to him-know that the evil hath been determined by him;
[8] and thou hast done kindness, to thy servant, for into a covenant of Jehovah thou hast brought thy servant with thee;-and if there is in me iniquity, put thou me to death; and unto thy father, why is this-thou dost bring me in?’
[9] And Jonathan saith, ‘Far be it from thee! for I certainly do not know that the evil hath been determined by my father to come upon thee, and I do not declare it to thee.’
[10] And David saith unto Jonathan, ‘Who doth declare to me? or what if thy father doth answer thee sharply?’
[11] And Jonathan saith unto David, ‘Come, and we go out into the field;’ and they go out both of them into the field.
[12] And Jonathan saith unto David, ‘Jehovah, God of Israel-when I search my father, about this time to-morrow or the third day, and lo, good is towards David, and I do not then send unto thee, and have uncovered thine ear-
[13] thus doth Jehovah do to Jonathan, and thus doth He add; when the evil concerning thee is good to my father, then I have uncovered thine ear, and sent thee away, and thou hast gone in peace, and Jehovah is with thee, as he was with my father;
[14] and not only while I am alive dost thou do with me the kindness of Jehovah, and I die not,
[15] but thou dost not cut off thy kindness from my house unto the age, nor in Jehovah’s cutting off the enemies of David, each one from off the face of the ground.’
[16] And Jonathan covenanteth with the house of David, and Jehovah hath sought it from the hand of the enemies of David;
[17] and Jonathan addeth to cause David to swear, because he loveth him, for with the love of his own soul he hath loved him.
[18] And Jonathan saith to him, ‘To-morrow is new moon, and thou hast been looked after, for thy seat is looked after;
[19] and on the third day thou dost certainly come down, and hast come in unto the place where thou wast hidden in the day of the work, and hast remained near the stone Ezel.
[20] ‘And I shoot three of the arrows at the side, sending out for myself at a mark;
[21] and lo, I send the youth: Go, find the arrows. If I at all say to the youth, Lo, the arrows are on this side of thee-take them,-then come thou, for peace is for thee, and there is nothing; Jehovah liveth.
[22] And if thus I say to the young man, Lo, the arrows are beyond thee,-go, for Jehovah hath sent thee away;
[23] as to the thing which we have spoken, I and thou, lo, Jehovah is between me and thee-unto the age.’
[24] And David is hidden in the field, and it is the new moon, and the king sitteth down by the food to eat,
[25] and the king sitteth on his seat, as time by time, on a seat by the wall, and Jonathan riseth, and Abner sitteth at the side of Saul, and David’s place is looked after.
[26] And Saul hath not spoken anything on that day, for he said, ‘It is an accident; he is not clean-surely not clean.’
[27] And it cometh to pass on the second morrow of the new moon, that David’s place is looked after, and Saul saith unto Jonathan his son, ‘Wherefore hath the son of Jesse not come in, either yesterday or to-day, unto the food?’
[28] And Jonathan answereth Saul, ‘David hath been earnestly asked of me unto Beth-Lehem,
[29] and he saith, Send me away, I pray thee, for a family sacrifice we have in the city, and my brother himself hath given command to me, and now, if I have found grace in thine eyes, let me go away, I pray thee, and see my brethren; therefore he hath not come unto the table of the king.’
[30] And the anger of Saul burneth against Jonathan, and he saith to him, ‘Son of a perverse rebellious woman! have I not known that thou art fixing on the son of Jesse to thy shame, and to the shame of the nakedness of thy mother?
[31] for all the days that the son of Jesse liveth on the ground thou art not established, thou and thy kingdom; and now, send and bring him unto me, for he is a son of death.’
[32] And Jonathan answereth Saul his father, and saith unto him, ‘Why is he put to death? what hath he done?’
[33] And Saul casteth the javelin at him to smite him, and Jonathan knoweth that it hath been determined by his father to put David to death.
[34] And Jonathan riseth from the table in the heat of anger, and hath not eaten food on the second day of the new moon, for he hath been grieved for David, for his father put him to shame.
[35] And it cometh to pass in the morning, that Jonathan goeth out into the field for the appointment with David, and a little youth is with him.
[36] And he saith to his youth, ‘Run, find, I pray thee, the arrows which I am shooting;’ the youth is running, and he hath shot the arrow, causing it to pass over him.
[37] And the youth cometh unto the place of the arrow which Jonathan hath shot, and Jonathan calleth after the youth, and saith, ‘Is not the arrow beyond thee?’
[38] and Jonathan calleth after the youth, ‘Speed, haste, stand not;’ and Jonathan’s youth gathereth the arrows, and cometh unto his lord.
[39] And the youth hath not known anything, only Jonathan and David knew the word.
[40] And Jonathan giveth his weapons unto the youth whom he hath, and saith to him, ‘Go, carry into the city.’
[41] The youth hath gone, and David hath risen from Ezel, at the south, and falleth on his face to the earth, and boweth himself three times, and they kiss one another, and they weep one with another, till David exerted himself;
[42] and Jonathan saith to David, ‘Go in peace, in that we have sworn-we two-in the name of Jehovah, saying, Jehovah is between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed-unto the age;’ and he riseth and goeth; and Jonathan hath gone in to the city.