¹⁶ But ^(A)all Israel and Judah loved David, for he went out and came in before them.

¹⁷ Then Saul said to David, “^(B)Here is my older daughter Merab; I will give her to you as a wife; only be a man of valor for me and fight ^(C)Yahweh’s battles.” For Saul thought, “My hand shall not be against him, but ^(D)let the hand of the Philistines be against him.” ¹⁸ But David said to Saul, “^(E)Who am I, and what is my life or my father’s family in Israel, that I should be the king’s son-in-law?”