1 Samuel 20:8 “Therefore show kindness to your servant, for you have brought me into…”

1 Samuel 20:8

Therefore show kindness to your servant, for you have brought me into a covenant with you before the LORD. If there is iniquity in me, then kill me yourself; why should you bring me to your father?”

Berean Standard Bible

Other translations

King James Version

Therefore thou shalt deal kindly with thy servant; for thou hast brought thy servant into a covenant of the LORD with thee: notwithstanding, if there be in me iniquity, slay me thyself; for why shouldest thou bring me to thy father?

World English Bible

Therefore deal kindly with your servant, for you have brought your servant into a covenant of the LORD with you; but if there is iniquity in me, kill me yourself, for why should you bring me to your father?”

American Standard Version

Therefore deal kindly with thy servant; for thou hast brought thy servant into a covenant of Jehovah with thee: but if there be in me iniquity, slay me thyself; for why shouldest thou bring me to thy father?

Geneva Bible 1599

So shalt thou shew mercy vnto thy seruant: for thou hast ioyned thy seruant into a couenant of the Lord with thee, and if there be in me iniquitie, slay thou me: for why shouldest thou bring me to thy father?

Darby Translation

Deal kindly then with thy servant; for thou hast brought thy servant into a covenant of Jehovah with thee; but if there be in me iniquity, slay me thyself; for why shouldest thou bring me to thy father?

Young's Literal Translation

and thou hast done kindness, to thy servant, for into a covenant of Jehovah thou hast brought thy servant with thee; — and if there is in me iniquity, put thou me to death; and unto thy father, why is this — thou dost bring me in?'

Bible in Basic English

So, then, be kind to your servant; for you have been united with your servant in an agreement made before the Lord: but if there is any wrongdoing in me, put me to death yourself; why take me to your father?

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Cross references

“deal kindly”

Genesis 24:49 Genesis 47:29 Joshua 2:14 Ruth 1:8 Proverbs 3:3

Genesis 24:49 · BSB

Now if you will show kindness and faithfulness to my master, tell me; but if not, let me know, so that I may go elsewhere.”

Genesis 47:29 · BSB

When the time drew near for Israel to die, he called his son Joseph and said to him, “If I have found favor in your eyes, put your hand under my thigh and promise to show me kindness and faithfulness. Do not bury me in E…

Joshua 2:14 · BSB

“Our lives for your lives!” the men agreed. “If you do not report our mission, we will show you kindness and faithfulness when the LORD gives us the land.”

Ruth 1:8 · BSB

Then Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go back, each of you to your mother’s home. May the LORD show you loving devotion, as you have shown to your dead and to me.

Proverbs 3:3 · BSB

Never let loving devotion or faithfulness leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.

“thou hast”

1 Samuel 18:3 1 Samuel 23:18 1 Samuel 20:16

1 Samuel 18:3 · BSB

Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.

1 Samuel 23:18 · BSB

So the two of them made a covenant before the LORD. And David remained in Horesh, while Jonathan went home.

1 Samuel 20:16 · BSB

So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, “May the LORD hold David’s enemies accountable.”

“if there be”

2 Samuel 14:32 Joshua 22:22 Acts 25:11 Psalm 7:4 Psalm 7:5

2 Samuel 14:32 · BSB

“Look,” said Absalom, “I sent for you and said, ‘Come here. I want to send you to the king to ask: Why have I come back from Geshur? It would be better for me if I were still there.’ So now, let me see the king’s face, a…

Joshua 22:22 · BSB

“The LORD, the Mighty One, is God! The LORD, the Mighty One, is God! He knows, and may Israel also know. If this was in rebellion or breach of faith against the LORD, do not spare us today.

Acts 25:11 · BSB

If, however, I am guilty of anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die. But if there is no truth to their accusations against me, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!”

Psalm 7:4 · BSB

if I have rewarded my ally with evil, if I have plundered my foe without cause,

Psalm 7:5 · BSB

then may my enemy pursue me and overtake me; may he trample me to the ground and leave my honor in the dust. Selah

“why shouldest”

1 Chronicles 12:17 Psalm 116:11

1 Chronicles 12:17 · BSB

And David went out to meet them, saying, “If you have come to me in peace to help me, my heart will be united with you; but if you have come to betray me to my enemies when my hands are free of violence, may the God of o…

Psalm 116:11 · BSB

In my alarm I said, “All men are liars!”

Cross references adapted from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0) and the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

In context

7If he says, ‘Good,’ then your servant is safe, but if he is enraged, you will know he has evil intentions.

9“Never!” Jonathan replied. “If I ever found out that my father had evil intentions against you, would I not tell you?”

Read 1 Samuel 20