1 T he Lord said to Samuel, How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill your horn with oil; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite. For I have provided for Myself a king among his sons.

The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you be filled with sorrow because of Saul, since I have turned away from him being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go. I will send you to Jesse of Bethlehem. For I have chosen a king for Myself among his sons.”

2 S amuel said, How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me. And the Lord said, Take a heifer with you and say, I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.

But Samuel said, “How can I go? Saul will kill me when he hears about it.” The Lord said, “Take a young cow with you, and say, ‘I have come to give a gift to the Lord.’

3 A nd invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; and you shall anoint for Me the one I name to you.

Ask Jesse to come when you give the gift, and I will show you what you should do. You will choose for Me the one I name to you.”

4 A nd Samuel did what the Lord said, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming and said, Have you come peaceably?

So Samuel did what the Lord said, and came to Bethlehem. The leaders of the city came shaking with fear to meet him. They said, “Do you come in peace?”

5 A nd he said, Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice. And he consecrated Jesse and his sons and called them to the sacrifice.

Samuel said, “I have come in peace to give a gift to the Lord. Make yourselves holy and come with me as I give the gift.” He set apart Jesse and his sons also, and asked them to come to the gift-giving.

6 W hen they had come, he looked on Eliab and said, Surely the Lord’s anointed is before Him.

When they had come, Samuel looked at Eliab and thought, “For sure he is the Lord’s chosen one who is standing before Him.”

7 B ut the Lord said to Samuel, Look not on his appearance or at the height of his stature, for I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at the way he looks on the outside or how tall he is, because I have not chosen him. For the Lord does not look at the things man looks at. A man looks at the outside of a person, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

8 T hen Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel. But Samuel said, Neither has the Lord chosen this one.

Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “The Lord has not chosen this one.”

9 T hen Jesse made Shammah pass by. Samuel said, Nor has the Lord chosen him.

Next Jesse made Shammah pass by. But Samuel said, “The Lord has not chosen this one.”

10 J esse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, The Lord has not chosen any of these.

Jesse made seven of his sons pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen these.”

11 T hen said to Jesse, Are all your sons here? said, There is yet the youngest; he is tending the sheep. Samuel said to Jesse, Send for him; for we will not sit down to eat until he is here.

Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Are these all the children?” And Jesse said, “There is yet the youngest one. See, he is taking care of the sheep.” Samuel said to Jesse, “Send for him. We will not sit down until he comes here.”

12 J esse sent and brought him. David had a healthy reddish complexion and beautiful eyes, and was fine-looking. The Lord said, Arise, anoint him; this is he.

So he sent for him and brought him in. His youngest son had good color in his skin, beautiful eyes and was good-looking. The Lord said, “Rise up and choose him. For this is the one.”

13 T hen Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed David in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward. And Samuel arose and went to Ramah.

Then Samuel took the horn of oil and poured the oil on him in front of his brothers. The Spirit of the Lord came upon David with strength from that day on. And Samuel got up and went to Ramah. Saul’s Spirit Is Troubled

14 B ut the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord tormented and troubled him.

Now the Spirit of the Lord left Saul. And a bad spirit sent from the Lord brought trouble upon him.

15 S aul’s servants said to him, Behold, an evil spirit from God torments you.

Saul’s servants said to him, “See, a bad spirit from God is bringing you trouble.

16 L et our lord now command your servants here before you to find a man who plays skillfully on the lyre; and when the evil spirit from God is upon you, he will play it, and you will be well.

Let our lord now tell your servants who are in front of you to look for a man who is a good player of the harp. When the bad spirit sent from God is upon you, he will play the harp, and you will be well.”

17 S aul told his servants, Find me a man who plays well and bring him to me.

So Saul said to his servants, “Find me a man who can play well, and bring him to me.”

18 O ne of the young men said, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite who plays skillfully, a valiant man, a man of war, prudent in speech and eloquent, an attractive person; and the Lord is with him.

One of the young men said, “I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite who plays music well. He is a man with strength of heart, a man of war, wise in his speaking, and good-looking. And the Lord is with him.”

19 S o Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, Send me David your son, who is with the sheep.

So Saul sent men with news to Jesse, and said, “Send me your son David who is with the sheep.”

20 A nd Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a skin of wine, and a kid and sent them by David his son to Saul.

Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a bottle of wine, and a young goat, and sent them to Saul with David his son.

21 A nd David came to Saul and served him. Saul became very fond of him, and he became his armor-bearer.

David came to Saul and served him. Saul loved him very much, and he became the man who carried Saul’s battle-clothes.

22 S aul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David remain in my service, for he pleases me.

Saul sent word to Jesse, saying, “Let David serve me, for he has found favor in my eyes.”

23 A nd when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, David took a lyre and played it; so Saul was refreshed and became well, and the evil spirit left him.

When the bad spirit sent from God came upon Saul, David would take the harp and play it with his hand. And Saul would receive new strength and be well. The bad spirit would leave him.