1 Samuel 16
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1The LORD told Samuel, "How long will you grieve over Saul, since I've rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go. I'm sending you to Jesse from Bethlehem because I've chosen for myself one of his sons as king."1The LORD said to Samuel, "How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king."
2Samuel said, "How can I go? Saul will hear about this and kill me!" The LORD said, "Take a heifer with you and say, 'I've come to offer a sacrifice to the LORD.' 2But Samuel said, "How can I go? If Saul hears about it, he will kill me." The LORD said, "Take a heifer with you and say, 'I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.'
3You are to invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I'll show you what you are to do. You are to anoint for me the one I tell you."3Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what to do. You are to anoint for me the one I indicate."
4Samuel did what the LORD said and went to Bethlehem. The elders of the town came out to meet him trembling, and said, "May your coming be in peace."4Samuel did what the LORD said. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town trembled when they met him. They asked, "Do you come in peace?"
5He said, "Peace, I've come to sacrifice to the LORD. Consecrate yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice." Samuel consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.5Samuel replied, "Yes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Consecrate yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me." Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.
6When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab, and said, "Surely he's the LORD's anointed." 6When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, "Surely the LORD's anointed stands here before the LORD."
7The LORD told Samuel, "Don't look at his appearance or his height, for I've rejected him. Truly, God does not see what man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD sees the heart."7But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."
8Then Jesse summoned Abinadab and brought him before Samuel, and he said, "Neither has the LORD chosen this one." 8Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, "The LORD has not chosen this one either."
9Then Jesse brought Shammah, and he said, "Neither has the LORD chosen this one." 9Jesse then had Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, "Nor has the LORD chosen this one."
10Jesse brought seven of his sons before Samuel, and Samuel told Jesse, "The LORD has not chosen these."10Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, "The LORD has not chosen these."
11Then Samuel told Jesse, "Are these all the young men?" He said, "There yet remains the youngest one, and right now he's tending the sheep." Samuel told Jesse, "Send someone to get him, for we won't do anything else until he arrives here." 11So he asked Jesse, "Are these all the sons you have?" "There is still the youngest," Jesse answered. "He is tending the sheep." Samuel said, "Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives."
12So he sent and brought him. He had a dark, healthy complexion, with beautiful eyes, and he was handsome. The LORD said, "Get up and anoint him, for this is the one."12So he sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the LORD said, "Rise and anoint him; this is the one."
13Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed David in the presence of his brothers, and the Spirit of the LORD came on David from that day forward. Then Samuel got up and went to Ramah.13So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon David. Samuel then went to Ramah.
14The Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him. 14Now the Spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD tormented him.
15Saul's servants told him, "Look, an evil spirit from God is troubling you. 15Saul's attendants said to him, "See, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you.
16Let our lord order his servants who attend you to look for a man who is skilled in playing the lyre. And then when an evil spirit from God comes on you, he will play and you will be better."16Let our lord command his servants here to search for someone who can play the lyre. He will play when the evil spirit from God comes on you, and you will feel better."
17Saul told his servants, "Find a man for me who can play well and bring him to me."17So Saul said to his attendants, "Find someone who plays well and bring him to me."
18One of the young men answered: "Look, I've seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite who is skilled in playing. The man is a valiant soldier, gifted in speech, and handsome. And the LORD is with him."18One of the servants answered, "I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the lyre. He is a brave man and a warrior. He speaks well and is a fine-looking man. And the LORD is with him."
19So Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, "Send me your son David, who is with the sheep."19Then Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, "Send me your son David, who is with the sheep."
20Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a container of wine, and one kid, and sent them to Saul along with his son David. 20So Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a skin of wine and a young goat and sent them with his son David to Saul.
21David went to Saul and began to serve him. Saul loved him very much, and he became his armor bearer. 21David came to Saul and entered his service. Saul liked him very much, and David became one of his armor-bearers.
22Saul sent a messenger to Jesse to tell him, "Allow David to serve me, because I'm pleased with him."22Then Saul sent word to Jesse, saying, "Allow David to remain in my service, for I am pleased with him."
23Whenever an evil spirit from God came to Saul, David would take the lyre and play it. Relief would come to Saul and he would be better, because the evil spirit would leave him.23Whenever the spirit from God came on Saul, David would take up his lyre and play. Then relief would come to Saul; he would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him.
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1 Samuel 15
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