1Sa 20:8-17 | NASB2020 | STEP | So deal kindly with your servant , for you have brought your servant into a covenant of the Lord with you. But if I am guilty of wrongdoing , kill me yourself ; for why then should you bring me to your father ?”

1 Samuel 20:8-17

8 So deal kindly with your servant, for ^ayou have brought your servant into a covenant of the Lord with you. But ^bif ^{▼▼Lit guilt exists in me}I am guilty of wrongdoing, kill me yourself; for why then should you bring me to your father?” 9 Jonathan said, “Far be it from you! For if I in fact learn that my father has decided ^{▼▼Lit evil to come on}to inflict harm on you, would I not inform you?” 10 Then David said to Jonathan, “Who will inform me ^{▼▼As in ancient versions; MT or what your father}if your father answers you harshly?” 11 Jonathan said to David, “Come, and let’s go out to the field.” So both of them went out to the field.

12 Then Jonathan said to David, “The Lord, the God of Israel, is my witness! When I have sounded out my father about this time tomorrow or the third day, behold, if he has a good feeling toward ^{▼▼Lit David}you, shall I not then send word to you and ^{▼▼Lit uncover your ear}inform you? 13 If it pleases my father to do you harm, ^hmay the Lord do so to ^{▼▼Lit Jonathan}me and more so, if I fail to ^{▼▼Lit uncover your ear}inform you and send you away, so that you may go in safety. And ^kmay the Lord be with you as He has been with my father. 14 And if I am still alive, will you not show me the faithfulness of the Lord, so that I do not die? 15 And ^lyou shall never cut off your loyalty to my house, not even when the Lord cuts off every one of the enemies of David from the face of the earth.” 16 So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, “ ^mMay the Lord demand it from the hands of David’s enemies.” 17 And Jonathan made David vow again because of his love for him, because ⁿhe loved him as he loved his own life.