1 Samuel 20:5–17

5 So David said, “Look, tomorrow is the New Moon feast,p and I am supposed to dine with the king; but let me go and hideq in the field until the evening of the day after tomorrow. 6 If your father misses me at all, tell him, ‘David earnestly asked my permissionr to hurry to Bethlehem,s his hometown, because an annualt sacrifice is being made there for his whole clan.’ 7 If he says, ‘Very well,’ then your servant is safe. But if he loses his temper,u you can be sure that he is determinedv to harm me. 8 As for you, show kindness to your servant, for you have brought him into a covenantw with you before the Lord. If I am guilty, then killx me yourself! Why hand me over to your father?”

9 “Never!” Jonathan said. “If I had the least inkling that my father was determined to harm you, wouldn’t I tell you?”

10 David asked, “Who will tell me if your father answers you harshly?”

11 “Come,” Jonathan said, “let’s go out into the field.” So they went there together.

12 Then Jonathan said to David, “I swear by the Lord, the God of Israel, that I will surely soundy out my father by this time the day after tomorrow! If he is favorably disposed toward you, will I not send you word and let you know? 13 But if my father intends to harm you, may the Lord deal with Jonathan, be it ever so severely,z if I do not let you know and send you away in peace. May the Lord be witha you as he has been with my father. 14 But show me unfailing kindnessb like the Lord’s kindness as long as I live, so that I may not be killed, 15 and do not ever cut off your kindness from my familyc—not even when the Lord has cut off every one of David’s enemies from the face of the earth.”

16 So Jonathand made a covenante with the house of David, saying, “May the Lord call David’s enemies to account.f” 17 And Jonathan had David reaffirm his oathg out of love for him, because he loved him as he loved himself.