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1 Samuel 20 New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1.0; maximum-scale=1.0; user-scalable=0;"/><title>1 Samuel 20 New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/1_samuel/20.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmcc/1_samuel/20-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="http://biblehub.com/catholic">Bible</a> > <a href="../">NRSVCE</a> > 1 Samuel 20</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../1_samuel/19.htm" title="1 Samuel 19">◄</a> 1 Samuel 20 <a href="../1_samuel/21.htm" title="1 Samuel 21">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top">New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition</td><td width="1%" valign="top"></td></tr></table></div><div class="chap"><div class="text-html"> <h3><span id="en" class="text">The Friendship of David and Jonathan</span></h3><p class="chapter-2"><span class="text"><span class="versenum">1</span>David fled from Naioth in Ramah. He came before Jonathan and said, “What have I done? What is my guilt? And what is my sin against your father that he is trying to take my life?” </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">2</span>He said to him, “Far from it! You shall not die. My father does nothing either great or small without disclosing it to me; and why should my father hide this from me? Never!” </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">3</span>But David also swore, “Your father knows well that you like me; and he thinks, ‘Do not let Jonathan know this, or he will be grieved.’ But truly, as the <span style="font-variant: small-caps" class="small-caps">Lord</span> lives and as you yourself live, there is but a step between me and death.” </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">4</span>Then Jonathan said to David, “Whatever you say, I will do for you.” </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">5</span>David said to Jonathan, “Tomorrow is the new moon, and I should not fail to sit with the king at the meal; but let me go, so that I may hide in the field until the third evening. </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">6</span>If your father misses me at all, then say, ‘David earnestly asked leave of me to run to Bethlehem his city; for there is a yearly sacrifice there for all the family.’ </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">7</span>If he says, ‘Good!’ it will be well with your servant; but if he is angry, then know that evil has been determined by him. </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">8</span>Therefore deal kindly with your servant, for you have brought your servant into a sacred covenant<span data-fn='#fen' class='footnote' data-link='[<a href="#fen-NRSVCE-7739a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]'>[<a href="#fen" xtitle="See footnote a">a</a>]</span> with you. But if there is guilt in me, kill me yourself; why should you bring me to your father?” </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">9</span>Jonathan said, “Far be it from you! If I knew that it was decided by my father that evil should come upon you, would I not tell you?” </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">10</span>Then David said to Jonathan, “Who will tell me if your father answers you harshly?” </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">11</span>Jonathan replied to David, “Come, let us go out into the field.” So they both went out into the field.</span></p> <p><span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">12</span>Jonathan said to David, “By the <span style="font-variant: small-caps" class="small-caps">Lord</span>, the God of Israel! When I have sounded out my father, about this time tomorrow, or on the third day, if he is well disposed toward David, shall I not then send and disclose it to you? </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">13</span>But if my father intends to do you harm, the <span style="font-variant: small-caps" class="small-caps">Lord</span> do so to Jonathan, and more also, if I do not disclose it to you, and send you away, so that you may go in safety. May the <span style="font-variant: small-caps" class="small-caps">Lord</span> be with you, as he has been with my father. </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">14</span>If I am still alive, show me the faithful love of the <span style="font-variant: small-caps" class="small-caps">Lord</span>; but if I die,<span data-fn='#fen' class='footnote' data-link='[<a href="#fen-NRSVCE-7745b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]'>[<a href="#fen" xtitle="See footnote b">b</a>]</span> </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">15</span>never cut off your faithful love from my house, even if the <span style="font-variant: small-caps" class="small-caps">Lord</span> were to cut off every one of the enemies of David from the face of the earth.” </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">16</span>Thus Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, “May the <span style="font-variant: small-caps" class="small-caps">Lord</span> seek out the enemies of David.” </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">17</span>Jonathan made David swear again by his love for him; for he loved him as he loved his own life.</span></p> <p><span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">18</span>Jonathan said to him, “Tomorrow is the new moon; you will be missed, because your place will be empty. </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">19</span>On the day after tomorrow, you shall go a long way down; go to the place where you hid yourself earlier, and remain beside the stone there.<span data-fn='#fen' class='footnote' data-link='[<a href="#fen-NRSVCE-7750c" title="See footnote c">c</a>]'>[<a href="#fen" xtitle="See footnote c">c</a>]</span> </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">20</span>I will shoot three arrows to the side of it, as though I shot at a mark. </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">21</span>Then I will send the boy, saying, ‘Go, find the arrows.’ If I say to the boy, ‘Look, the arrows are on this side of you, collect them,’ then you are to come, for, as the <span style="font-variant: small-caps" class="small-caps">Lord</span> lives, it is safe for you and there is no danger. </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">22</span>But if I say to the young man, ‘Look, the arrows are beyond you,’ then go; for the <span style="font-variant: small-caps" class="small-caps">Lord</span> has sent you away. </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">23</span>As for the matter about which you and I have spoken, the <span style="font-variant: small-caps" class="small-caps">Lord</span> is witness<span data-fn='#fen' class='footnote' data-link='[<a href="#fen-NRSVCE-7754d" title="See footnote d">d</a>]'>[<a href="#fen" xtitle="See footnote d">d</a>]</span> between you and me forever.”</span></p> <p><span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">24</span>So David hid himself in the field. When the new moon came, the king sat at the feast to eat. </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">25</span>The king sat upon his seat, as at other times, upon the seat by the wall. Jonathan stood, while Abner sat by Saul’s side; but David’s place was empty.</span></p> <p><span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">26</span>Saul did not say anything that day; for he thought, “Something has befallen him; he is not clean, surely he is not clean.” </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">27</span>But on the second day, the day after the new moon, David’s place was empty. And Saul said to his son Jonathan, “Why has the son of Jesse not come to the feast, either yesterday or today?” </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">28</span>Jonathan answered Saul, “David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Bethlehem; </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">29</span>he said, ‘Let me go; for our family is holding a sacrifice in the city, and my brother has commanded me to be there. So now, if I have found favor in your sight, let me get away, and see my brothers.’ For this reason he has not come to the king’s table.”</span></p> <p><span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">30</span>Then Saul’s anger was kindled against Jonathan. He said to him, “You son of a perverse, rebellious woman! Do I not know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to your own shame, and to the shame of your mother’s nakedness? </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">31</span>For as long as the son of Jesse lives upon the earth, neither you nor your kingdom shall be established. Now send and bring him to me, for he shall surely die.” </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">32</span>Then Jonathan answered his father Saul, “Why should he be put to death? What has he done?” </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">33</span>But Saul threw his spear at him to strike him; so Jonathan knew that it was the decision of his father to put David to death. </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">34</span>Jonathan rose from the table in fierce anger and ate no food on the second day of the month, for he was grieved for David, and because his father had disgraced him.</span></p> <p><span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">35</span>In the morning Jonathan went out into the field to the appointment with David, and with him was a little boy. </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">36</span>He said to the boy, “Run and find the arrows that I shoot.” As the boy ran, he shot an arrow beyond him. </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">37</span>When the boy came to the place where Jonathan’s arrow had fallen, Jonathan called after the boy and said, “Is the arrow not beyond you?” </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">38</span>Jonathan called after the boy, “Hurry, be quick, do not linger.” So Jonathan’s boy gathered up the arrows and came to his master. </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">39</span>But the boy knew nothing; only Jonathan and David knew the arrangement. </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">40</span>Jonathan gave his weapons to the boy and said to him, “Go and carry them to the city.” </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">41</span>As soon as the boy had gone, David rose from beside the stone heap<span data-fn='#fen' class='footnote' data-link='[<a href="#fen-NRSVCE-7772e" title="See footnote e">e</a>]'>[<a href="#fen" xtitle="See footnote e">e</a>]</span> and prostrated himself with his face to the ground. He bowed three times, and they kissed each other, and wept with each other; David wept the more.<span data-fn='#fen' class='footnote' data-link='[<a href="#fen-NRSVCE-7772f" title="See footnote f">f</a>]'>[<a href="#fen" xtitle="See footnote f">f</a>]</span> </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">42</span>Then Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, since both of us have sworn in the name of the <span style="font-variant: small-caps" class="small-caps">Lord</span>, saying, ‘The <span style="font-variant: small-caps" class="small-caps">Lord</span> shall be between me and you, and between my descendants and your descendants, forever.’” He got up and left; and Jonathan went into the city.<span data-fn='#fen' class='footnote' data-link='[<a href="#fen-NRSVCE-7773g" title="See footnote g">g</a>]'>[<a href="#fen" xtitle="See footnote g">g</a>]</span></span></p> <A name="fen"></a><div class="footnotes"><h4>Footnotes</h4><ol><li id="fen"><a hlef="#en" xtitle="Go to 1 Samuel 20:8">1 Samuel 20:8</a> <span class='footnote-text'>Heb <i>a covenant of the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span></i></span></li><li id="fen"><a hlef="#en" xtitle="Go to 1 Samuel 20:14">1 Samuel 20:14</a> <span class='footnote-text'>Meaning of Heb uncertain</span></li><li id="fen"><a hlef="#en" xtitle="Go to 1 Samuel 20:19">1 Samuel 20:19</a> <span class='footnote-text'>Meaning of Heb uncertain</span></li><li id="fen"><a hlef="#en" xtitle="Go to 1 Samuel 20:23">1 Samuel 20:23</a> <span class='footnote-text'>Gk: Heb lacks <i>witness</i></span></li><li id="fen"><a hlef="#en" xtitle="Go to 1 Samuel 20:41">1 Samuel 20:41</a> <span class='footnote-text'>Gk: Heb <i>from beside the south</i></span></li><li id="fen"><a hlef="#en" xtitle="Go to 1 Samuel 20:41">1 Samuel 20:41</a> <span class='footnote-text'>Vg: Meaning of Heb uncertain</span></li><li id="fen"><a hlef="#en" xtitle="Go to 1 Samuel 20:42">1 Samuel 20:42</a> <span class='footnote-text'>This sentence is 21.1 in Heb</span></li></ol></div> <!--end of footnotes--></div></div></div></div></div> </div> </div><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center">Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. 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