1 Samuel 20:4-17

4Then Jonathan said to David, “Whatever 1you say, I will do for you.” 5So David said to Jonathan, “Behold, tomorrow is 2the new moon, and I am obligated 3to sit down to eat with the king. But let me go 4so that I may hide myself in the field until the third evening. 6If your father misses me at all, then say, ‘David earnestly requested leave of me to run to 5Bethlehem, his city, because it is 6the yearly sacrifice there for the whole family.’ 7If he 7says, ‘That is good,’ your servant will be safe; but if he is very angry, 8be aware that he has decided on evil. 8So deal kindly with your servant, for 9you have brought your servant into a covenant of the Lord with you. But 10if 11I am guilty of wrongdoing, kill me yourself; for why then should you bring me to your father?” 9Jonathan said, “Far be it from you! For if I in fact learn that my father has decided 12to inflict harm on you, would I not inform you?” 10Then David said to Jonathan, “Who will inform me 13if your father answers you harshly?” 11Jonathan said to David, “Come, and let’s go out to the field.” So both of them went out to the field.

12Then Jonathan said to David, “The Lord, the God of Israel, is my witness! When I have sounded out my father about this time tomorrow or the third day, behold, if he has a good feeling toward 14you, shall I not then send word to you and 15inform you? 13If it pleases my father to do you harm, 16may the Lord do so to 17me and more so, if I fail to 18inform you and send you away, so that you may go in safety. And 19may the Lord be with you as He has been with my father. 14And if I am still alive, will you not show me the faithfulness of the Lord, so that I do not die? 15And 20you shall never cut off your loyalty to my house, 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, “21May the Lord demand it from the hands of David’s enemies.” 17And Jonathan made David vow again because of his love for him, because 22he loved him as he loved his own life.