1 Samuel 20:1-8

1Then David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and came and 1said 2to Jonathan, “What have I done? What is my iniquity? And what is my sin before your father, that he is seeking my life?”

2He said to him, “Far from it, you shall not die. Behold, my father does nothing either great or small 3without disclosing it to me. So why should my father hide this thing from me? It is not so!”

3Yet David 4vowed again, 5saying, “Your father knows well that I have found favor in your sight, and he has said, ‘Do not let Jonathan know this, or he will be grieved.’ But truly 6as the Lord lives and as your soul lives, there is 7hardly a step between me and death.”

4Then Jonathan said to David, “Whatever 8you say, I will do for you.”

5So David said to Jonathan, “Behold, tomorrow is 9the new moon, and I ought 10to sit down to eat with the king. But let me go, 11that I may hide myself in the field until the third evening.

6If your father misses me at all, then say, ‘David earnestly asked leave of me to run to 12Bethlehem his city, because it is 13the yearly sacrifice there for the whole family.’

7If he 14says, ‘It is good,’ your servant will be safe; but if he is very angry, 15know that he has decided on evil.

8Therefore deal kindly with your servant, for 16you have brought your servant into a covenant of the Lord with you. But 17if there is iniquity in me, put me to death yourself; for why then should you bring me to your father?”