1 Samuel 16

1Now the LORDH3068 saidH559 toH413 SamuelH8050, “How longH5704H4970 are youH859 going to mournH56 forH413 SaulH7586, since IH589 have rejected himH3988 as kingH4427 overH5921 IsraelH3478? Fill your hornH7161 withH4390 oilH8081 and goH1980. I am sendingH7971 you toH413 JesseH3448 of BethlehemH1022, forH3588 I have selectedH7200 from his sonsH1121 a kingH4428 for Myself.”

2“HowH349 can I goH1980?” SamuelH8050 askedH559. “SaulH7586 will hear of itH8085 and kill meH2026!”

The LORDH3068 answeredH559, “TakeH3947 a heiferH5697H1241 with youH3027 and sayH559, ‘I have comeH935 to sacrificeH2076 to the LORDH3068.’ 3Then inviteH7121 JesseH3448 to the sacrificeH2077, and IH595 will show youH3045 whatH834 you are to doH6213. You are to anointH4886 for Me the oneH834 I indicateH559.”

4So SamuelH8050 didH6213 whatH834 the LORDH3068 had saidH1696 and wentH935 to BethlehemH1035. When the eldersH2205 of the townH5892 met himH7122, they trembledH2729 and askedH559, “Do you comeH935 in peaceH7965?”

5“In peaceH7965,” he repliedH559. “I have comeH935 to sacrificeH2076 to the LORDH3068. Consecrate yourselvesH6942 and comeH935 with meH854 to the sacrificeH2077.”

Then he consecratedH6942 JesseH3448 and his sonsH1121 and invitedH7121 them to the sacrificeH2077. 6When they arrivedH935, Samuel sawH7200 EliabH446 and saidH559, “SurelyH389 here beforeH5048 the LORDH3068 is His anointedH4899.”

7But the LORDH3068 saidH559 toH413 SamuelH8050, “Do notH408 considerH5027H413 his appearanceH4758H413 or heightH1364H6967, forH3588 I have rejected himH3988; the LORD does notH3808 see asH834 manH120 doesH7200. ForH3588 manH120 seesH7200 the outward appearanceH5869, but the LORDH3068 seesH7200 the heartH3824.”

8Then JesseH3448H413 calledH7121 AbinadabH41 and presented himH5674 toH6440 SamuelH8050, who saidH559, “The LORDH3068 has notH3808 chosenH977 thisH2088 one eitherH1571.”

9Next JesseH3448 presentedH5674 ShammahH8048,1 but Samuel saidH559, “The LORDH3068 has notH3808 chosenH977 thisH2088 one eitherH1571.”

10Thus JesseH3448 made sevenH7651 of his sonsH1121 passH5674 beforeH6440 SamuelH8050, but SamuelH8050H413 toldH559 himH3448, “The LORDH3068 has notH3808 chosenH977 any of theseH428.”

11And SamuelH8050H413 askedH559 himH3448, “Are these allH8552 the sons you haveH5288?”

“There is stillH5750H7604 the youngestH6996,” Jesse repliedH559, “but he isH2009 tendingH7462 the sheepH6629.”

“Send forH7971 himH3947,” SamuelH8050H413 repliedH559. “ForH3588 we will notH3808 sit downH5437 to eat untilH5704 he arrivesH935H6311.”

12So Jesse sent forH7971 his youngest son and brought him inH935. HeH1931 was ruddyH132, with beautifulH3303 eyesH5869H5973 and a handsomeH2896 appearanceH7210. And the LORDH3068 saidH559, “RiseH6965 and anoint himH4886, forH3588 heH1931 is the oneH2088.”

13So SamuelH8050 tookH3947 the hornH7161 of oilH8081 and anointedH4886 himH853 in the presenceH7130 of his brothersH251, and the SpiritH7307 of the LORDH3068 rushedH6743 uponH413 DavidH1732 from thatH1931 dayH3117 forwardH4605. Then SamuelH8050 set outH6965 and wentH1980 to RamahH7414.

David Serves Saul

14Now the SpiritH7307 of the LORDH3068 departedH5493 fromH5973 SaulH7586, and a spiritH7307 of distressH74512 fromH854 the LORDH3068 began to torment himH1204. 15Saul’sH7586 servantsH5650 saidH559 to himH413, “SurelyH2009H4994 a spiritH7307 of distressH7451 from GodH430 is tormenting youH1204. 16Let our lordH113 commandH559H4994 your servantsH5650 hereH6440 to seek outH1245 someoneH376 who can skillfullyH3045 playH5059 the harpH3658H1961. WheneverH1961 the spiritH7307 of distressH7451 from GodH430 is upon youH5921, he is to play itH5059H3027, and you will be wellH2896.”

17And SaulH7586 commandedH559 hisH413 servantsH5650, “FindH7200H4994 me someoneH376 who playsH5059 wellH3190, and bringH935 him to meH413.”

18OneH259 of the servantsH5288H559H2009 answeredH6030, “I have seenH7200 a sonH1121 of JesseH3448 of BethlehemH1022 who knowsH3045 how to playH5059 the harp. He is a mighty manH1368 of valorH2428, a warriorH376H4421, eloquentH995H1697H376 and handsomeH8389, and the LORDH3068 is with himH5973.”

19So SaulH7586 sentH7971 messengersH4397 toH413 JesseH3448 and saidH559, “SendH7971H413 meH853 your sonH1121 DavidH1732, whoH834 is with the sheepH6629.”

20And JesseH3448 tookH3947 a donkeyH2543 loaded with breadH3899, a skinH4997 of wineH3196, and oneH259 young goatH1423H5795 and sent themH7971 toH413 SaulH7586 withH3027 his sonH1121 DavidH1732. 21When DavidH1732 cameH935 toH413 SaulH7586 and entered his serviceH5975H6440, Saul loved himH157 very muchH3966, and David becameH1961 his armor-bearerH5375H3627.

22Then SaulH7586 sentH7971 word toH413 JesseH3448, sayingH559, “Let DavidH1732 remain in my serviceH5975H4994H6440, forH3588 I am pleased withH4672H2580 himH5869.” 23And wheneverH1961 the spiritH7307 from GodH430 cameH1961 uponH413 SaulH7586, DavidH1732 would pick upH3947 his harpH3658 and playH5059H3027. Then SaulH7586 would find reliefH7304 and feel betterH2896, and the spiritH7307 of distressH7451 would departH5493 from himH5921.