1 Samuel 16:1-12

1Now the Lord said to Samuel, “1How long are you going to mourn for 2Saul, since 3I have rejected him from being king over Israel? 4Fill your horn with oil and go; I will send you to 5Jesse the Bethlehemite, because I have 6chosen a king for Myself among his sons.” 2But Samuel said, “How can I go? When Saul hears about it, he will kill me.” But the Lord said, “7Take a heifer 8with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ 3And you shall invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and 9I will let you know what you shall do; and 10you shall anoint for Me the one whom I 11designate to you.” 4So Samuel did what the Lord told him, and he came to 12Bethlehem. Then the elders of the city came trembling to meet him and said, “13Do you come in peace?” 5And he said, “In peace; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. 14Consecrate yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” He also consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

6When they entered, he looked at 15Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is standing before Him.” 7But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for 16God does not see as man sees, since man looks at 17the outward appearance, 18but the Lord looks at the heart.” 8Then Jesse called 19Abinadab and had him pass before Samuel. But he said, “The Lord has not chosen this one, either.” 9Next Jesse had 2021Shammah pass by. And he said, “The Lord has not chosen this one, either.” 10So Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel. But Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen these.” 11Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Are these all the boys?” And he said, “22The youngest is still left, but behold, he is tending the sheep.” So Samuel said to Jesse, “Send word and bring him; for we will not take our places at the table until he comes here.” 12So he sent word and brought him in. Now he was 23reddish, with 24beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance. And the Lord said, “25Arise, anoint him; for this is he.”