| NET Bible | New International Version |
| 1Then Samuel took a small container of olive oil and poured it on Saul's head. Samuel kissed him and said, "The LORD has chosen you to lead his people Israel! You will rule over the LORD's people and you will deliver them from the power of the enemies who surround them. This will be your sign that the LORD has chosen you as leader over his inheritance. | 1Then Samuel took a flask of olive oil and poured it on Saul's head and kissed him, saying, "Has not the LORD anointed you ruler over his inheritance? |
| 2When you leave me today, you will find two men near Rachel's tomb at Zelzah on Benjamin's border. They will say to you, 'The donkeys you have gone looking for have been found. Your father is no longer concerned about the donkeys but has become anxious about you two! He is asking, "What should I do about my son?"' | 2When you leave me today, you will meet two men near Rachel's tomb, at Zelzah on the border of Benjamin. They will say to you, 'The donkeys you set out to look for have been found. And now your father has stopped thinking about them and is worried about you. He is asking, "What shall I do about my son?"' |
| 3"As you continue on from there, you will come to the tall tree of Tabor. At that point three men who are going up to God at Bethel will meet you. One of them will be carrying three young goats, one of them will be carrying three round loaves of bread, and one of them will be carrying a container of wine. | 3"Then you will go on from there until you reach the great tree of Tabor. Three men going up to worship God at Bethel will meet you there. One will be carrying three young goats, another three loaves of bread, and another a skin of wine. |
| 4They will ask you how you're doing and will give you two loaves of bread. You will accept them. | 4They will greet you and offer you two loaves of bread, which you will accept from them. |
| 5Afterward you will go to Gibeah of God, where there are Philistine officials. When you enter the town, you will meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place. They will have harps, tambourines, flutes, and lyres, and they will be prophesying. | 5"After that you will go to Gibeah of God, where there is a Philistine outpost. As you approach the town, you will meet a procession of prophets coming down from the high place with lyres, timbrels, pipes and harps being played before them, and they will be prophesying. |
| 6Then the spirit of the LORD will rush upon you and you will prophesy with them. You will be changed into a different person. | 6The Spirit of the LORD will come powerfully upon you, and you will prophesy with them; and you will be changed into a different person. |
| 7"When these signs have taken place, do whatever your hand finds to do, for God will be with you. | 7Once these signs are fulfilled, do whatever your hand finds to do, for God is with you. |
| 8You will go down to Gilgal before me. I am going to join you there to offer burnt offerings and to make peace offerings. You should wait for seven days, until I arrive and tell you what to do." | 8"Go down ahead of me to Gilgal. I will surely come down to you to sacrifice burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, but you must wait seven days until I come to you and tell you what you are to do." |
| 9As Saul turned to leave Samuel, God changed his inmost person. All these signs happened on that very day. | 9As Saul turned to leave Samuel, God changed Saul's heart, and all these signs were fulfilled that day. |
| 10When Saul and his servant arrived at Gibeah, a company of prophets was coming out to meet him. Then the spirit of God rushed upon Saul and he prophesied among them. | 10When he and his servant arrived at Gibeah, a procession of prophets met him; the Spirit of God came powerfully upon him, and he joined in their prophesying. |
| 11When everyone who had known him previously saw him prophesying with the prophets, the people all asked one another, "What on earth has happened to the son of Kish? Does even Saul belong with the prophets?" | 11When all those who had formerly known him saw him prophesying with the prophets, they asked each other, "What is this that has happened to the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?" |
| 12A man who was from there replied, "And who is their father?" Therefore this became a proverb: "Is even Saul among the prophets?" | 12A man who lived there answered, "And who is their father?" So it became a saying: "Is Saul also among the prophets?" |
| 13When Saul had finished prophesying, he went to the high place. | 13After Saul stopped prophesying, he went to the high place. |
| 14Saul's uncle asked him and his servant, "Where did you go?" Saul replied, "To look for the donkeys. But when we realized they were lost, we went to Samuel." | 14Now Saul's uncle asked him and his servant, "Where have you been?" "Looking for the donkeys," he said. "But when we saw they were not to be found, we went to Samuel." |
| 15Saul's uncle said, "Tell me what Samuel said to you." | 15Saul's uncle said, "Tell me what Samuel said to you." |
| 16Saul said to his uncle, "He assured us that the donkeys had been found." But Saul did not tell him what Samuel had said about the matter of kingship. | 16Saul replied, "He assured us that the donkeys had been found." But he did not tell his uncle what Samuel had said about the kingship. |
| 17Then Samuel called the people together before the LORD at Mizpah. | 17Samuel summoned the people of Israel to the LORD at Mizpah |
| 18He said to the Israelites, "This is what the LORD God of Israel says, 'I brought Israel up from Egypt and I delivered you from the power of the Egyptians and from the power of all the kingdoms that oppressed you. | 18and said to them, "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'I brought Israel up out of Egypt, and I delivered you from the power of Egypt and all the kingdoms that oppressed you.' |
| 19But today you have rejected your God who saves you from all your trouble and distress. You have said, "No! Appoint a king over us." Now take your positions before the LORD by your tribes and by your clans.'" | 19But you have now rejected your God, who saves you out of all your disasters and calamities. And you have said, 'No, appoint a king over us.' So now present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes and clans." |
| 20Then Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near, and the tribe of Benjamin was chosen by lot. | 20When Samuel had all Israel come forward by tribes, the tribe of Benjamin was taken by lot. |
| 21Then he brought the tribe of Benjamin near by its families, and the family of Matri was chosen by lot. At last Saul son of Kish was chosen by lot. But when they looked for him, he was nowhere to be found. | 21Then he brought forward the tribe of Benjamin, clan by clan, and Matri's clan was taken. Finally Saul son of Kish was taken. But when they looked for him, he was not to be found. |
| 22So they inquired again of the LORD, "Has the man arrived here yet?" The LORD said, "He has hidden himself among the equipment." | 22So they inquired further of the LORD, "Has the man come here yet?" And the LORD said, "Yes, he has hidden himself among the supplies." |
| 23So they ran and brought him from there. When he took his position among the people, he stood head and shoulders above them all. | 23They ran and brought him out, and as he stood among the people he was a head taller than any of the others. |
| 24Then Samuel said to all the people, "Do you see the one whom the LORD has chosen? Indeed, there is no one like him among all the people!" All the people shouted out, "Long live the king!" | 24Samuel said to all the people, "Do you see the man the LORD has chosen? There is no one like him among all the people." Then the people shouted, "Long live the king!" |
| 25Then Samuel talked to the people about how the kingship would work. He wrote it all down on a scroll and set it before the LORD. Then Samuel sent all the people away to their homes. | 25Samuel explained to the people the rights and duties of kingship. He wrote them down on a scroll and deposited it before the LORD. Then Samuel dismissed the people to go to their own homes. |
| 26Even Saul went to his home in Gibeah. With him went some brave men whose hearts God had touched. | 26Saul also went to his home in Gibeah, accompanied by valiant men whose hearts God had touched. |
| 27But some wicked men said, "How can this man save us?" They despised him and did not even bring him a gift. But Saul said nothing about it. | 27But some scoundrels said, "How can this fellow save us?" They despised him and brought him no gifts. But Saul kept silent. |
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