1. David escaped from Prophets Village. Then he ran to see Jonathan and asked, “Why does your father Saul want to kill me? What have I done wrong?”
2. “My father can't be trying to kill you! He never does anything without telling me about it. Why would he hide this from me? It can't be true!”
3. “Jonathan, I swear it's true! But your father knows how much you like me, and he didn't want to break your heart. That's why he didn't tell you. I swear by the living Lord and by your own life that I'm only one step ahead of death.”
4. Then Jonathan said, “Tell me what to do, and I'll do it.”
5. David answered:Tomorrow is the New Moon Festival, and I'm supposed to have dinner with your father. But instead, I'll hide in a field until the evening of the next day.
6. If Saul wonders where I am, tell him, “David asked me to let him go to his home town of Bethlehem, so he could take part in a sacrifice his family makes there every year.”
7. If your father says it's all right, then I'm safe. But if he gets angry, you'll know he wants to harm me.
8. Be kind to me. After all, it was your idea to promise the Lord that we would always be loyal friends. If I've done anything wrong, kill me yourself, but don't hand me over to your father.
9. “Don't worry,” Jonathan said. “If I find out that my father wants to kill you, I'll certainly let you know.”
10. “How will you do that?” David asked.
11. “Let's go out to this field, and I'll tell you,” Jonathan answered.When they got there,
12. Jonathan said:I swear by the Lord God of Israel, that two days from now I'll know what my father is planning. Of course I'll let you know if he's friendly towards you.
13. But if he wants to harm you, I promise to tell you and help you escape. And I ask the Lord to punish me severely if I don't keep my promise.I pray that the Lord will bless you, just as he used to bless my father.
14-15. Some day the Lord will wipe out all your enemies. Then if I'm still alive, please be as kind to me as the Lord has been. But if I'm dead, be kind to my family.