1. David ran away from the camps at Ramah and went to Jonathan and asked him, “What have I done wrong? What is my crime? Why is your father trying to kill me?”
2. Jonathan answered, “That can’t be true! My father isn’t trying to kill you. My father doesn’t do anything without first telling me. It doesn’t matter how important it is, my father always tells me. Why would my father refuse to tell me that he wants to kill you? No, it is not true!”
3. But David answered, “Your father knows very well that I am your friend. Your father said to himself, ‘Jonathan must not know about it. If he knows, he will tell David.’ But as surely as you and the Lord are alive, I am very close to death.”
4. Jonathan said to David, “I will do anything you want me to do.”
5. Then David said, “Look, tomorrow is the New Moon celebration. I am supposed to eat with the king, but let me hide in the field until the evening.
6. If your father notices I am gone, tell him, ‘David wanted to go home to Bethlehem. His family is having its own feast for this monthly sacrifice. David asked me to let him run down to Bethlehem and join his family.’
7. If your father says, ‘Fine,’ then I am safe. But if your father becomes angry, you will know that he wants to hurt me.
8. Jonathan, be kind to me. I am your servant. You have made an agreement with me before the Lord. If I am guilty, you may kill me yourself, but don’t take me to your father.”
9. Jonathan answered, “No, never! If I learn that my father plans to hurt you, I will warn you.”
10. David said, “Who will warn me if your father says bad things to you?”
11. Then Jonathan said, “Come, let’s go out into the field.” So Jonathan and David went together into the field.