A reading from the book of 1 Samuel.

Then David fled from Nyothan Rama, and came and said before Jonathan,

What have I done? What is my guilt? And what is my sin before your father that he seeks my life?

And he said to him, Far from it, you shall not die.

Behold, my father does nothing, either great or small, without disclosing it to me.

And why should my father hide this from me?

It is not so.

But David vowed again, saying,

Your father knows well that I have found favor in your eyes, and he thinks, do not let Jonathan

know this, lest he be grieved. But truly as the Lord lives and as your soul lives, there is but a step

between me and death. Then Jonathan said to David, whatever you say, I will do for you.

David said to Jonathan,

Behold, tomorrow is the new moon,

and I should not fail to sit at table with the king.

But let me go that I may hide myself in the field

till the third day at evening.

If your father misses me at all, then say, David earnestly asked

leave of me to run to Bethlehem his city, for there is a yearly sacrifice there for all the

clan. If he says, good, it will be well with your servant, but if he is angry, then know that

harm is determined by him.

Therefore, deal kindly with your servant, for you have brought your servant into a covenant

of the Lord with you. But if there is guilt in me, kill me yourself, for why should you bring

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