1. David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and went to Jonathan. “What have I done?” he asked him. “What crime or what offense does your father hold against me that he seeks my life?”
2. Jonathan answered him: “Heaven forbid that you should die! My father does nothing, great or small, without telling me. Why, then, should my father conceal this from me? It cannot be true!”
3. But David replied: “Your father is well aware that I am favored with your friendship, so he has decided, ‘Jonathan must not know about this or he will be grieved.’ Nevertheless, as the Lord lives and as you live, there is only a step between me and death.”
4. Jonathan then said to David, “I will do whatever you say.”
5. David answered: “Tomorrow is the new moon, when I should in fact dine with the king. Let me go and hide in the open country until evening.
6. If it turns out that your father misses me, say, ‘David urged me to let him go on short notice to his city Bethlehem, because his whole clan is holding its seasonal sacrifice there.’
7. If he says, ‘Very well,’ your servant is safe. But if he becomes quite angry, you can be sure he has planned some harm.
8. Do this kindness for your servant because of the Lord’s covenant into which you brought us: if I am guilty, kill me yourself! Why should you give me up to your father?”
9. But Jonathan answered: “Not I! If ever I find out that my father is determined to harm you, I will certainly let you know.”
10. David then asked Jonathan, “Who will tell me if your father gives you a harsh answer?”
11. Jonathan replied to David, “Come, let us go out into the field.” When they were out in the open country together,
12. Jonathan said to David: “As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, I will sound out my father about this time tomorrow. Whether he is well disposed toward David or not, I will inform you.