¹⁷ Saul told David, ‘Here is my eldest daughter Merab. I’ll give her to you as a wife^(A) if you will be a warrior for me and fight the Lord’s battles.’^(B) But Saul was thinking, ‘I don’t need to raise a hand against him; let the hand of the Philistines be against him.’^(C)

²⁸ Please forgive your servant’s offence,^(A) for the Lord is certain to make a lasting dynasty for my lord^(B) because he fights the Lord’s battles.^(C) Throughout your life, may evil^[a] not be found in you.^(D)