| NET Bible | International Standard Version |
| 1The LORD said to Samuel, "How long do you intend to mourn for Saul? I have rejected him as king over Israel. Fill your horn with olive oil and go! I am sending you to Jesse in Bethlehem, for I have selected a king for myself from among his sons." | 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." |
| 2Samuel replied, "How can I go? Saul will hear about it and kill me!" But the LORD said, "Take a heifer with you and say, 'I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.' | 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.' |
| 3Then invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you should do. You will anoint for me the one I point out to you." | 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." |
| 4Samuel did what the LORD told him. When he arrived in Bethlehem, the elders of the city were afraid to meet him. They said, "Do you come in peace?" | 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." |
| 5He replied, "Yes, in peace. I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Consecrate yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice." So he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. | 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. |
| 6When they arrived, Samuel noticed Eliab and said to himself, "Surely, here before the LORD stands his chosen king!" | 6When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab, and said, "Surely he's the LORD's anointed." |
| 7But the LORD said to Samuel, "Don't be impressed by his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. God does not view things the way men do. People look on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." | 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." |
| 8Then Jesse called Abinadab and presented him to Samuel. But Samuel said, "The LORD has not chosen this one, either." | 8Then Jesse summoned Abinadab and brought him before Samuel, and he said, "Neither has the LORD chosen this one." |
| 9Then Jesse presented Shammah. 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." |
| 10Jesse presented seven of his sons to Samuel. But Samuel said to Jesse, "The LORD has not chosen any of these." | 10Jesse brought seven of his sons before Samuel, and Samuel told Jesse, "The LORD has not chosen these." |
| 11Then Samuel said to Jesse, "Is that all of the young men?" Jesse replied, "There is still the youngest one, but he's taking care of the flock." Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and get him, for we cannot turn our attention to other things until he comes here." | 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." |
| 12So Jesse had him brought in. Now he was ruddy, with attractive eyes and a handsome appearance. The LORD said, "Go and anoint him. This is the one!" | 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." |
| 13So Samuel took the horn full of olive oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers. The Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day onward. Then Samuel got up and went to Ramah. | 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. |
| 14Now the Spirit of the LORD had turned away from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD tormented him. | 14The Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him. |
| 15Then Saul's servants said to him, "Look, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you!" | 15Saul's servants told him, "Look, an evil spirit from God is troubling you. |
| 16Let our lord instruct his servants who are here before you to look for a man who knows how to play the lyre. Then whenever the evil spirit from God comes upon you, he can play the lyre and you will feel better." | 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." |
| 17So Saul said to his servants, "Find me a man who plays well and bring him to me." | 17Saul told his servants, "Find a man for me who can play well and bring him to me." |
| 18One of his attendants replied, "I have seen a son of Jesse in Bethlehem who knows how to play the lyre. He is a brave warrior and is articulate and handsome, for the LORD is with him." | 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." |
| 19So Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, "Send me your son David, who is out with the sheep. | 19So Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, "Send me your son David, who is with the sheep." |
| 20So Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a container of wine, and a young goat and sent them to Saul with his son David. | 20Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a container of wine, and one kid, and sent them to Saul along with his son David. |
| 21David came to Saul and stood before him. Saul liked him a great deal, and he became his armor bearer. | 21David went to Saul and began to serve him. Saul loved him very much, and he became his armor bearer. |
| 22Then Saul sent word to Jesse saying, "Let David be my servant, for I really like him." | 22Saul sent a messenger to Jesse to tell him, "Allow David to serve me, because I'm pleased with him." |
| 23So whenever the spirit from God would come upon Saul, David would take his lyre and play it. This would bring relief to Saul and make him feel better. Then the evil spirit would leave him alone. | 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. |
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