1 A nd the Lord said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me 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 A nd Samuel said, How can I go? if Saul hear it, he will kill me. And the Lord said, Take an heifer with thee, and say, I am 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 call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will shew thee what thou shalt do: and thou shalt anoint unto me him whom I name unto thee.

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 that which the Lord spake, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, Comest thou 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 am come to sacrifice unto the Lord: sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified 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 A nd it came to pass, when they were come, that 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 unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh 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. And he said, Neither hath the Lord chosen this.

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 to pass by. And he said, Neither hath the Lord chosen this.

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

10 A gain, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The Lord hath not chosen these.

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

11 A nd Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither.

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 A nd he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the Lord said, Arise, anoint him: for 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 him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, 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 troubled him.

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

15 A nd Saul's servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee.

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

16 L et our lord now command thy servants, which are before thee, to seek out a man, who is a cunning player on an harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt 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 A nd Saul said unto his servants, Provide me now a man that can play 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 T hen answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely 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 W herefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said, Send me David thy son, which 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 an ass laden with bread, and a bottle of wine, and a kid, and sent them by David his son unto 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 stood before him: and he loved him greatly; and he became his armourbearer.

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

22 A nd Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David, I pray thee, stand before me; for he hath found favour in my sight.

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

23 A nd it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from 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.