New American Bible, Revised Edition

1 Samuel 18:17-28 New American Bible, Revised Edition (NABRE)

17. Saul said to David, “Look, I will give you my older daughter, Merob, in marriage if you become my warrior and fight the battles of the Lord.” Saul thought, “I will not lay a hand on him. Let the hand of the Philistines strike him.”

18. But David answered Saul: “Who am I? And who are my kindred or my father’s clan in Israel that I should become the king’s son-in-law?”

19. But when the time came for Saul’s daughter Merob to be given to David, she was given as wife to Adriel the Meholathite instead.

20. Now Saul’s daughter Michal loved David. When this was reported to Saul, he was pleased.

21. He thought, “I will offer her to him as a trap, so that the hand of the Philistines may strike him.” So for the second time Saul said to David, “You shall become my son-in-law today.”

22. Saul then ordered his servants, “Speak to David privately and say: The king favors you, and all his officers love you. You should become son-in-law to the king.”

23. But when Saul’s servants mentioned this to David, he said: “Is becoming the king’s son-in-law a trivial matter in your eyes? I am poor and insignificant.”

24. When his servants reported David’s answer to him,

25. Saul commanded them, “Say this to David: The king desires no other price for the bride than the foreskins of one hundred Philistines, that he may thus take vengeance on his enemies.” Saul intended to have David fall into the hands of the Philistines.

26. When the servants reported this offer to David, he was pleased with the prospect of becoming the king’s son-in-law. Before the year was up,

27. David arose and went with his men and slew two hundred Philistines. He brought back their foreskins and counted them out before the king that he might become the king’s son-in-law. So Saul gave him his daughter Michal as wife.

28. Then Saul realized that the Lord was with David and that his own daughter Michal loved David.