1 Samuel 20:8-17

8Therefore deal kindly with your servant, for 1you have brought your servant into a covenant of the Lord with you. But 2if there is iniquity in me, put me to death yourself; for why then should you bring me to your father?” 9Jonathan said, “Far be it from you! For if I should indeed learn that evil has been decided by my father to come upon you, then would I not tell you about it?” 10Then David said to Jonathan, “Who will tell me 3if your father answers you harshly?” 11Jonathan said to David, “Come, and let us go out into the field.” So both of them went out to the field.

12Then Jonathan said to David, “The Lord, the God of Israel, be witness! When I have sounded out my father about this time tomorrow, or the third day, behold, if there is good feeling toward David, shall I not then send to you and 4make it known to you? 13If it please my father to do you harm, 5may the Lord do so to Jonathan and more also, if I do not 6make it known to you and send you away, that you may go in safety. And 7may the Lord be with you as He has been with my father. 14If I am still alive, will you not show me the lovingkindness of the Lord, that I may not die? 158You shall not cut off your lovingkindness from my house forever, not even when the Lord cuts off every one of the enemies of David from the face of the earth.” 16So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, “9May the Lord require it at the hands of David’s enemies.” 17Jonathan made David vow again because of his love for him, because 10he loved him as he loved his own life.