6
If your father misses me at all, then say, 'David earnestly asked permission of me that he might run over to Bethlehem, his city, for there is a yearly sacrifice there for all the family.'
7
If he says thus: 'It is well,' your servant will be safe. But if he is very angry, then be sure that evil is determined by him.
8
Therefore you shall deal kindly with your servant, for you have brought your servant into a covenant of the Lord with you. Nevertheless, if there is iniquity in me, kill me yourself, for why should you bring me to your father?"
9
But Jonathan said, "Far be it from you! For if I knew certainly that evil was determined by my father to come upon you, then would I not tell you?"
10
Then David said to Jonathan, "Who will tell me, or what if your father answers you roughly?"
11
And Jonathan said to David, "Come, and let us go out into the field." So both of them went out into the field.
12
Then Jonathan said to David: "The Lord God of Israel is witness! When I have sounded out my father sometime tomorrow, or the third day, and indeed there is good toward David, and I do not send to you and tell you,
13
may the Lord do so and much more to Jonathan. But if it pleases my father to do you evil, then I will report it to you and send you away, that you may go in safety. And the Lord be with you as He has been with my father.
14
And you shall not only show me the kindness of the Lord while I still live, that I may not die;
15
but you shall not cut off your kindness from my house forever, no, not when the Lord has cut 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, "Let the Lord require it at the hand of David's enemies."