| New Living Translation | Berean Study Bible |
| 1Now the LORD said to Samuel, “You have mourned long enough for Saul. I have rejected him as king of Israel, so fill your flask with olive oil and go to Bethlehem. Find a man named Jesse who lives there, for I have selected one of his sons to be my king.” | 1Now the LORD said to Samuel, “How long are you going to mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem, for I have selected from his sons a king for Myself.” |
| 2But Samuel asked, “How can I do that? If Saul hears about it, he will kill me.” “Take a heifer with you,” the LORD replied, “and say that you have come to make a sacrifice to the LORD. | 2“How can I go?” Samuel asked. “Saul will hear of it and kill me!” The LORD answered, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.’ |
| 3Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you which of his sons to anoint for me.” | 3Then invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you are to do. You are to anoint for Me the one I indicate.” |
| 4So Samuel did as the LORD instructed. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town came trembling to meet him. “What’s wrong?” they asked. “Do you come in peace?” | 4So Samuel did what the LORD had said and went to Bethlehem. When the elders of the town met him, they trembled and asked, “Do you come in peace?” |
| 5“Yes,” Samuel replied. “I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Purify yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” Then Samuel performed the purification rite for Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice, too. | 5“In peace,” he replied. “I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Consecrate yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. |
| 6When they arrived, Samuel took one look at Eliab and thought, “Surely this is the LORD’s anointed!” | 6When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and said, “Surely here before the LORD is His anointed.” |
| 7But the LORD said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The LORD doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” | 7But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or height, for I have rejected him; the LORD does not see as man does. For man sees the outward appearance, but the LORD sees the heart.” |
| 8Then Jesse told his son Abinadab to step forward and walk in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “This is not the one the LORD has chosen.” | 8Then Jesse called Abinadab and presented him to Samuel, who said, “The LORD has not chosen this one either.” |
| 9Next Jesse summoned Shimea, but Samuel said, “Neither is this the one the LORD has chosen.” | 9Next Jesse presented Shammah, but Samuel said, “The LORD has not chosen this one either.” |
| 10In the same way all seven of Jesse’s sons were presented to Samuel. But Samuel said to Jesse, “The LORD has not chosen any of these.” | 10Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel told him, “The LORD has not chosen any of these.” |
| 11Then Samuel asked, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest,” Jesse replied. “But he’s out in the fields watching the sheep and goats.” “Send for him at once,” Samuel said. “We will not sit down to eat until he arrives.” | 11And Samuel asked him, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest,” Jesse replied, “but he is tending the sheep.” “Send for him,” Samuel replied. “For we will not sit down to eat until he arrives.” |
| 12So Jesse sent for him. He was dark and handsome, with beautiful eyes. And the LORD said, “This is the one; anoint him.” | 12So Jesse sent for his youngest son and brought him in. He was ruddy, with beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance. And the LORD said, “Rise and anoint him, for he is the one.” |
| 13So as David stood there among his brothers, Samuel took the flask of olive oil he had brought and anointed David with the oil. And the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon David from that day on. Then Samuel returned to Ramah. David Serves in Saul’s Court | 13So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day forward. Then Samuel set out and went to Ramah. |
| 14Now the Spirit of the LORD had left Saul, and the LORD sent a tormenting spirit that filled him with depression and fear. | 14After the Spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul, a spirit of distress from the LORD began to torment him. |
| 15Some of Saul’s servants said to him, “A tormenting spirit from God is troubling you. | 15Saul’s servants said to him, “Surely a spirit of distress from God is tormenting you. |
| 16Let us find a good musician to play the harp whenever the tormenting spirit troubles you. He will play soothing music, and you will soon be well again.” | 16Let our lord command your servants here to seek out someone who can skillfully play the harp. Whenever the spirit of distress from God is upon you, he is to play it, and you will be well.” |
| 17“All right,” Saul said. “Find me someone who plays well, and bring him here.” | 17And Saul commanded his servants, “Find me someone who plays well, and bring him to me.” |
| 18One of the servants said to Saul, “One of Jesse’s sons from Bethlehem is a talented harp player. Not only that—he is a brave warrior, a man of war, and has good judgment. He is also a fine-looking young man, 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 harp. He is a mighty man of valor, a warrior, eloquent and handsome, and the LORD is with him.” |
| 19So Saul sent messengers to Jesse to say, “Send me your son David, the shepherd.” | 19So Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.” |
| 20Jesse responded by sending David to Saul, along with a young goat, a donkey loaded with bread, and a wineskin full of wine. | 20And Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a skin of wine, and one young goat, and sent them to Saul with his son David. |
| 21So David went to Saul and began serving him. Saul loved David very much, and David became his armor bearer. | 21When David came to Saul and entered his service, Saul admired him greatly, and David became his armor-bearer. |
| 22Then Saul sent word to Jesse asking, “Please let David remain in my service, for I am very pleased with him.” | 22Then Saul sent word to Jesse, saying, “Let David remain in my service, for I am pleased with him.” |
| 23And whenever the tormenting spirit from God troubled Saul, David would play the harp. Then Saul would feel better, and the tormenting spirit would go away. | 23And whenever the spirit from God came upon Saul, David would pick up his harp and play, and Saul would become well, and the spirit of distress would depart from him. |
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