1 Samuel 20:14

Easy-to-Read Version

As long as I live, show me the same kindness the Lord does. And if I die, never stop showing this kindness to my family. Be faithful to us, even when the Lord destroys all your enemies from the earth."

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
If I continue to live, show me kindness from the Lord, but if I die,

Hebrew Names Version
You shall not only while yet I live show me the lovingkindness of the LORD, that I not die;

King James Version
And thou shalt not only while yet I live shew me the kindness of the Lord , that I die not:

Lexham English Bible
And not while I am still alive, will you not show the loyal love of Yahweh with me, that I may not die?

English Standard Version
If I am still alive, show me the steadfast love of the Lord , that I may not die;

New Century Version
But show me the kindness of the Lord as long as I live so that I may not die.

New English Translation
While I am still alive, extend to me the loyalty of the Lord , or else I will die!

Amplified Bible
"If I am still alive, will you not show me the lovingkindness and faithfulness of the LORD, so that I will not die?

New American Standard Bible
"And if I am still alive, will you not show me the faithfulness of the LORD, so that I do not die?

Geneva Bible (1587)
Likewise I require not whiles I liue: for I dout not but thou wilt shew me the mercy of the Lord, that I die not.

Legacy Standard Bible
And if I am still alive, will you not show me the lovingkindness of Yahweh, that I may not die?

Contemporary English Version
Someday the Lord will wipe out all of your enemies. Then if I'm still alive, please be as kind to me as the Lord has been. But if I'm dead, be kind to my family.

Complete Jewish Bible
However, you are to show me Adonai 's kindness not only while I am alive, so that I do not die;

Darby Translation
And thou shalt not only while yet I live shew me the kindness of Jehovah, that I die not,

George Lamsa Translation
And if only you will show me the kindness of God while I live, before I die;

Good News Translation
And if I remain alive, please keep your sacred promise and be loyal to me; but if I die,

Literal Translation
And not only while I live, even you shall do with me the kindness of Jehovah, that I not die,

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Yf I do it not, then do thou no mercy of the LORDE on me, while I lyue, no not whan I dye,

American Standard Version
And thou shalt not only while yet I live show me the lovingkindness of Jehovah, that I die not;

Bible in Basic English
And may you, while I am still living, O may you be kind to me, as the Lord is kind, and keep me from death!

Bishop's Bible (1568)
And [I require] not whiles I liue, [for I dout not] but thou wilt shewe me the mercie of the Lord, that I die not:

JPS Old Testament (1917)
And thou shalt not only while yet I live show me the kindness of the LORD, that I die not;

King James Version (1611)
And thou shalt not onely while yet I liue, shew me the kindnesse of the Lord, that I die not:

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And if indeed I continue to live, then shalt thou deal mercifully with me; and if I indeed die,

English Revised Version
And thou shalt not only while yet I live shew me the kindness of the LORD, that I die not:

Berean Standard Bible
And as long as I live, treat me with the LORD's loving devotion that I may not die,

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And if Y lyue, do thou the mercies of the Lord to me;

Young's Literal Translation
and not only while I am alive dost thou do with me the kindness of Jehovah, and I die not,

Update Bible Version
And you shall not only while I yet live show me the loving-kindness of Yahweh, that I will not die;

Webster's Bible Translation
And thou shalt, not only while yet I live, show me the kindness of the LORD, that I may not die:

World English Bible
You shall not only while yet I live show me the lovingkindness of Yahweh, that I not die;

New King James Version
And you shall not only show me the kindness of the LORD while I still live, that I may not die;

New Living Translation
And may you treat me with the faithful love of the Lord as long as I live. But if I die,

New Life Bible
If I am still alive, show me the faithful love of the Lord, that I may not die.

New Revised Standard
If I am still alive, show me the faithful love of the Lord ; but if I die,

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And, not only while I yet live, shalt thou deal with me in the lovingkindness of Yahweh, that I die not:

Douay-Rheims Bible
And if I live, thou shalt shew me the kindness of the Lord: but if I die,

Revised Standard Version
If I am still alive, show me the loyal love of the LORD, that I may not die;

New American Standard Bible (1995)
"If I am still alive, will you not show me the lovingkindness of the LORD, that I may not die?

Contextual Overview

⁹ Jonathan answered, "No, never! If I learn that my father plans to hurt you, I will warn you." ¹⁰ David said, "Who will warn me if your father says bad things to you?" ¹¹ Then Jonathan said, "Come, let's go out into the field." So Jonathan and David went together into the field. ¹² Jonathan said to David, "I make this promise before the Lord , the God of Israel. I promise that I will learn how my father feels about you. I will learn if he feels good about you or not. Then, in three days, I will send a message to you in the field. ¹³ If my father wants to hurt you, I will let you know. I will let you leave in safety. May the Lord punish me if I don't do this. May the Lord be with you as he has been with my father. ¹⁴As long as I live, show me the same kindness the Lord does. And if I die, never stop showing this kindness to my family. Be faithful to us, even when the Lord destroys all your enemies from the earth." ¹⁶ So Jonathan made this agreement with David and his family, and he asked the Lord to hold them responsible for keeping it. ¹⁷ Jonathan loved David as himself, and because of this love, he asked David to repeat this agreement for himself. ¹⁸ Jonathan said to David, "Tomorrow is the New Moon celebration. Your seat will be empty, so my father will see that you are gone. ¹⁹ On the third day go to the same place you hid when this trouble began. Wait by that hill.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the kindness: 2 Samuel 9:3, Ephesians 5:1, Ephesians 5:2

Reciprocal: Genesis 31:44 - let us Genesis 40:14 - show Joshua 2:12 - swear 1 Samuel 20:23 - the matter 1 Samuel 24:21 - Swear 2 Samuel 9:1 - show him

Cross-References

Genesis 12:16
Pharaoh was kind to Abram because he thought Abram was Sarai's brother. He gave Abram sheep, cattle, donkeys, camels, and men and women servants.

Genesis 20:2
Abraham told people that Sarah was his sister. King Abimelech of Gerar heard this. Abimelech wanted Sarah, so he sent some servants to take her.

Genesis 20:7
So give Abraham his wife again. He is a prophet. He will pray for you, and you will live. But if you don't give Sarah back to him, I promise that you will die. And all your family will die with you."

Genesis 20:11
Then Abraham said, "I thought no one in this place respected God. I thought someone would kill me to get Sarah.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And thou shalt not only, while yet I live, show me the kindness of the Lord,.... Such kindness as is well pleasing in the sight of God, and imitate what he shows to men, and which was covenanted, promised, and agreed to in the presence of the Lord, when David and Jonathan entered into covenant with each other; this Jonathan did not doubt of, and therefore did not make this a request:

that I die not; he had no fear nor dread on his mind, should David come to the throne while he was alive, that he would take away his life; which was usually done by tyrants and usurpers, when there were any that had a fairer title, and better claim to the throne than they.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The general meaning is: Jonathan had a presentiment, doubtless from God, that David would be established upon the throne. By God’s mercy he had the comfort, which he well deserved, of knowing that his own posterity would receive kindness at David’s hand (see the marginal references).

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 1 Samuel 20:14. Show me the kindness of the Lord — When thou comest to the kingdom, if I am alive, thou shalt show kindness to me, and thou shalt continue that kindness to my family after me.