[1] And David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and came and said before Jonathan, What have I done? what is mine iniquity? and what is my sin before thy father, that he seeketh my life? [2] And he said unto him, God forbid; thou shalt not die: behold, my father will do nothing either great or small, but that he will shew it me: and why should my father hide this thing from me? it is not so. [3] And David sware moreover, and said, Thy father certainly that I have found grace in thine eyes; and he saith, Let not Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved: but truly as the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, there is but a step between me and death. [4] Then said Jonathan unto David, Whatsoever thy soul desireth, I will even do it for thee. [5] And David said unto Jonathan, Behold, to morrow is the new moon, and I should not fail with the king at meat: but let me go, that I may hide myself in the field unto the third day at even. [6] If thy father at all me, then say, David earnestly leave of me that he might run to Bethlehem his city: for there is a yearly sacrifice there for all the family. [7] If he say thus, It is well; thy servant shall have peace: but if he be very then be sure that evil is determined by him. [8] Therefore thou shalt deal kindly with thy servant; for thou hast brought thy servant into a covenant of the LORD with thee: notwithstanding, if there be in me iniquity, slay me thyself; for why shouldest thou bring me to thy father? [9] And Jonathan said, Far be it from thee: for if I knew that evil were determined by my father to come upon thee, then would not I tell it thee? [10] Then said David to Jonathan, Who shall tell me? or what if thy father answer thee roughly? [11] And Jonathan said unto David, and let us go out into the field. And they went out both of them into the field. [12] And Jonathan said unto David, O LORD God of Israel, when I have sounded my father about to morrow any time, or the third toward David, and I then send not unto thee, and shew [13] The LORD do so and much more to Jonathan: but if it please my father to do thee evil, then I will shew it thee, and send thee away, that thou mayest go in peace: and the LORD be with thee, as he hath been with my father. [14] And thou shalt not only while yet I live shew me the kindness of the LORD, that I die [15] But also thou shalt not cut off thy kindness from my house for ever: no, not when the LORD hath cut off the enemies of David every one from the face of the earth. [16] So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, Let the LORD even require it at the hand of David's enemies. [17] And Jonathan caused David to swear again, because he loved him: for he loved him as he loved his own soul.