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.

Yahweh said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite; for I have provided 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.

Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me.” Yahweh said, “Take a heifer with you, and say, I have come to sacrifice to Yahweh.

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.

Call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do. You shall anoint to me him whom 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?

Samuel did that which Yahweh spoke, and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling, and said, “Do you come peaceably?”

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.

He said, “Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to Yahweh. Sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice.” He sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice.

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

When they had come, he looked at Eliab, and said, “Surely Yahweh’s anointed is 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 Yahweh said to Samuel, “Don’t look on his face, or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for I don’t see as man sees. For man looks at the outward appearance, but Yahweh 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 before Samuel. He said, “Yahweh has not chosen this one, either.”

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

Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. He said, “Yahweh has not chosen this one, either.”

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 to pass before Samuel. Samuel said to Jesse, “Yahweh 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.

Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your children here?” He said, “There remains yet the youngest. Behold, he is keeping the sheep.” Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and get him, for 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.

He sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with a handsome face and good appearance. Yahweh said, “Arise! Anoint him, for this is he.”

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 anointed him in the middle of his brothers. Then Yahweh’s Spirit came mightily on David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up and went to Ramah.

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

Now Yahweh’s Spirit departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from Yahweh troubled him.

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

Saul’s servants said to him, “See now, an evil spirit from God troubles you.

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 command your servants who are in front of you to seek out a man who is a skillful player on the harp. Then when the evil spirit from God is on you, he will play with his hand, and you will be well.”

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

Saul said to his servants, “Provide me now 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.

Then one of the young men answered, and said, “Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite who is skillful in playing, a mighty man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a handsome person; and Yahweh is with him.”

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

Therefore Saul sent messengers to Jesse, and said, “Send me David your son, 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, and a bottle of wine, and a young goat, and sent them by David his son to Saul.

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 stood before him. He loved him greatly; and he became his armor bearer.

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

Saul sent to Jesse, saying, “Please let David stand before me; for he has found favor in my sight.”

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 spirit from God was on Saul, David took the harp, and played with his hand; so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.