The Tanakh · JPS 1917 Translation

1 Samuel 19

Jewish Publication Society 1917 · Nevi'im — the Prophets

1 Samuel chapter 19 — part of the Nevi'im — the Prophets in the Jewish Bible. In the classic JPS 1917 translation it opens: “And Saul spoke to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they should slay David; but Jonathan Saul's son delighted much in David.” — the complete text of all 24 verses is below, free to read online.

1And Saul spoke to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they should slay David; but Jonathan Saul's son delighted much in David.

2And Jonathan told David, saying: 'Saul my father seeketh to slay thee; now therefore, I pray thee, take heed to thyself in the morning, and abide in a secret place, and hide thyself.

3And I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where thou art, and I will speak with my father of thee; and if I see aught, I will tell thee.'

4And Jonathan spoke good of David unto Saul his father, and said unto him: 'Let not the king sin against his servant, against David; because he hath not sinned against thee, and because his work hath been very good towards thee;

5for he put his life in his hand, and smote the Philistine, and HaShem wrought a great victory for all Israel; thou sawest it, and didst rejoice; wherefore then wilt thou sin against innocent blood, to slay David without a cause?'

6And Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan; and Saul swore: 'As HaShem liveth, he shall not be put to death.'

7And Jonathan called David, and Jonathan told him all those things. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence, as beforetime.

8And there was war again; and David went out, and fought with the Philistines, and slew them with a great slaughter; and they fled before him.

9And an evil spirit from HaShem was upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his spear in his hand; and David was playing with his hand.

10And Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with the spear; but he slipped away out of Saul's presence, and he smote the spear into the wall; and David fled, and escaped that night.

11And Saul sent messengers unto David's house, to watch him, and to slay him in the morning; and Michal David's wife told him, saying: 'If thou save not thy life to-night, to-morrow thou shalt be slain.'

12So Michal let David down through the window; and he went, and fled, and escaped.

13And Michal took the teraphim, and laid it in the bed, and put a quilt of goats' hair at the head thereof, and covered it with a cloth.

14And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said: 'He is sick.'

15And Saul sent the messengers to see David, saying: 'Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may slay him.'

16And when the messengers came in, behold, the teraphim was in the bed, with the quilt of goats' hair at the head thereof.

17And Saul said unto Michal: 'Why hast thou deceived me thus, and let mine enemy go, that he is escaped?' And Michal answered Saul: 'He said unto me: Let me go; why should I kill thee?'

18Now David fled, and escaped, and came to Samuel to Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and dwelt in Naioth.

19And it was told Saul, saying: 'Behold, David is at Naioth in Ramah.'

20And Saul sent messengers to take David; and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as head over them, the spirit of G-d came upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied.

21And when it was told Saul, he sent other messengers, and they also prophesied. And Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they also prophesied.

22Then went he also to Ramah, and came to the great cistern that is in Secu; and he asked and said: 'Where are Samuel and David?' And one said: 'Behold, they are at Naioth in Ramah.'

23And he went thither to Naioth in Ramah; and the spirit of G-d came upon him also, and he went on, and prophesied, until he came to Naioth in Ramah.

24And he also stripped off his clothes, and he also prophesied before Samuel, and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Wherefore they say: 'Is Saul also among the prophets?'

24 verses · JPS 1917 (public domain)

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