1 Samuel 20:22-29
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 20
22But if I say to the youth, ‘Behold, the arrows are beyond you,’ go, because the Lord has sent you away. 23As for the agreement of which you and I have spoken, behold, the Lord is between you and me forever.'
24So David hid himself in the field; and when the new moon came, the king sat down to eat food.
25Now the king sat on his seat as usual, the seat by the wall; then Jonathan stood up and Abner sat down by Saul’s side; but David’s place was empty.
26Nevertheless Saul did not say anything that day, because he thought, 'It must have been an accident; he is not clean, undoubtedly he is not clean.'
27But it came about the next day, the second day of the new moon, that David’s place was empty again; so Saul said to his son Jonathan, 'Why has the son of Jesse not come to the meal, either yesterday or today?'
28And Jonathan answered Saul, 'David earnestly requested leave of me to go to Bethlehem.
29He said, ‘Please let me go, because our family has a sacrifice in the city, and my brother has ordered me to attend. So now, if I have found favor in your sight, please let me slip away so that I may see my brothers.’ For this reason he has not come to the king’s table.'
King James Version
Chapter 20
22But if I say thus unto the young man, Behold, the arrows are beyond thee; go thy way: for the Lord hath sent thee away. 23And as touching the matter which thou and I have spoken of, behold, the Lord be between thee and me for ever.
24So David hid himself in the field: and when the new moon was come, the king sat him down to eat meat.
25And 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.
26Nevertheless Saul spake not any thing that day: for he thought, Something hath befallen him, he is not clean; surely he is not clean.
27And 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?
28And Jonathan answered Saul, David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Bethlehem:
29And 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.
Christian Standard Bible
Chapter 20
22But if I say this to the youth, ‘Look, the arrows are beyond you!’ then go, for the Lord is sending you away. 23As for the matter you and I have spoken about, the Lord will be a witness between you and me forever."
24So David hid in the countryside. At the New Moon, the king sat down to eat the meal.
25He sat at his usual place on the seat by the wall. Jonathan sat facing him and Abner took his place beside Saul, but David’s place was empty.
26Saul did not say anything that day because he thought, "Something unexpected has happened; he must be ceremonially unclean—yes, that’s it, he is unclean."
28Jonathan answered, "David asked for my permission to go to Bethlehem.
29He said, ‘Please let me go because our clan is holding a sacrifice in the town, and my brother has told me to be there. So now, if I have found favor with you, let me go so I can see my brothers.’ That’s why he didn’t come to the king’s table."
New Living Translation
Chapter 20
22But if I tell him, ‘Go farther — the arrows are still ahead of you,’ then it will mean that you must leave immediately, for the Lord is sending you away. 23And may the Lord make us keep our promises to each other, for he has witnessed them.'
24So David hid himself in the field, and when the new moon festival began, the king sat down to eat.
25He sat at his usual place against the wall, with Jonathan sitting opposite him and Abner beside him. But David’s place was empty.
26Saul didn’t say anything about it that day, for he said to himself, 'Something must have made David ceremonially unclean.'
27But when David’s place was empty again the next day, Saul asked Jonathan, 'Why hasn’t the son of Jesse been here for the meal either yesterday or today?'
English Standard Version
Chapter 20
22But if I say to the youth, ‘Look, the arrows are beyond you,’ then go, for the Lord has sent you away. 23And as for the matter of which you and I have spoken, behold, the Lord is between you and me forever."
24So David hid himself in the field. And when the new moon came, the king sat down to eat food.
25The king sat on his seat, as at other times, on the seat by the wall. Jonathan sat opposite, and Abner sat by Saul 's side, but David 's place was empty.
26Yet Saul did not say anything that day, for he thought, "Something has happened to him. He is not clean; surely he is not clean."
27But on the second day, the day after the new moon, David 's place was empty. And Saul said to Jonathan his son, "Why has not the son of Jesse come to the meal, either yesterday or today?"
28Jonathan answered Saul, "David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Bethlehem.
29He said, ‘Let me go, for our clan holds a sacrifice in the city, and my brother has commanded me to be there. So now, if I have found favor in your eyes, let me get away and see my brothers.’ For this reason he has not come to the king 's table."
New International Version
Chapter 20
22But if I say to the boy, ‘Look, the arrows are beyond you,’ then you must go, because the Lord has sent you away. 23And about the matter you and I discussed—remember, the Lord is witness between you and me forever."
24So David hid in the field, and when the New Moon feast came, the king sat down to eat.
25He sat in his customary place by the wall, opposite Jonathan, and Abner sat next to Saul, but David’s place was empty.
26Saul said nothing that day, for he thought, "Something must have happened to David to make him ceremonially unclean—surely he is unclean."
27But the next day, the second day of the month, David’s place was empty again. Then Saul said to his son Jonathan, "Why hasn’t the son of Jesse come to the meal, either yesterday or today?"
28Jonathan answered, "David earnestly asked me for permission to go to Bethlehem.
29He said, ‘Let me go, because our family is observing a sacrifice in the town and my brother has ordered me to be there. If I have found favor in your eyes, let me get away to see my brothers.’ That is why he has not come to the king’s table."
New King James Version
Chapter 20
22But if I say thus to the young man, ‘Look, the arrows are beyond you’—go your way, for the Lord has sent you away. 23And as for the matter which you and I have spoken of, indeed the Lord be between you and me forever.”
24Then David hid in the field. And when the New Moon had come, the king sat down to eat the feast.
25Now the king sat on his seat, as at other times, on a seat by the wall. And Jonathan arose, and Abner sat by Saul’s side, but David’s place was empty.
26Nevertheless Saul did not say anything that day, for he thought, “Something has happened to him; he is unclean, surely he is unclean.”
27And it happened the next day, the second day of the month, that David’s place was empty. And Saul said to Jonathan his son, “Why has the son of Jesse not come to eat, either yesterday or today?”
28So Jonathan answered Saul, “David earnestly asked permission of me to go to Bethlehem.
29And he said, ‘Please let me go, for our family has a sacrifice in the city, and my brother has commanded me to be there. And now, if I have found favor in your eyes, please let me get away and see my brothers.’ Therefore he has not come to the king’s table.”
