Now the LORD said
to Samuel
, " aHow
long
will you grieve
over
Saul
, since bI have rejected
him from being
king
over
Israel
? cFill
your horn
with oil
and go
; I will send
you to dJesse
the Bethlehemite
, for I have eselected
a king
for Myself among his sons
."
But Samuel said
, "How
can I go
? When Saul
hears
of it, he will kill
me." And the LORD
said
, " aTake
a heifer
with you and say
, `I have come
to sacrifice
to the LORD
.'
"You shall invite Jesse
to the sacrifice
, and aI will show
you what
you shall do
; and byou shall anoint
for Me the one whom
I 1designate
to you."
So Samuel did
what
the LORD
said
, and came
to aBethlehem
. And the elders
of the city
came
trembling
to meet
him and said
, " bDo you come
in peace
?"
He said, "In peace
; I have come
to sacrifice
to the LORD
. aConsecrate
yourselves and come
with me to the sacrifice
." He also consecrated
Jesse
and his sons
and invited
them to the sacrifice
.
When they entered, he looked
at aEliab
and thought
, "Surely
the LORD'S
anointed
is before
Him."
But the LORD said
to Samuel
, "Do not look
at his appearance
or at the height
of his stature
, because
I have rejected
him; for 1God
sees not as man
sees
, for man
looks
at the outward
appearance
, abut the LORD
looks
at the heart
."
Then Jesse called
aAbinadab
and made him pass
before
Samuel
. And he said
, "The LORD
has not chosen
this
one
either
."
Next Jesse made 1 aShammah
pass
by. And he said
, "The LORD
has not chosen
this
one
either
."
Thus Jesse made seven
of his sons
pass
before
Samuel
. But Samuel
said
to Jesse
, "The LORD
has not chosen
these
."
And Samuel said
to Jesse
, "Are these all
the children
?" And he said
, " aThere remains
yet
the youngest
, and behold
, he is tending
the sheep
." Then Samuel
said
to Jesse
, "Send
and 1bring
him; for we will not sit
down until
he comes
here
."
So he sent and brought
him in. Now he was ruddy
, with abeautiful
eyes
and a handsome
appearance
. And the LORD
said
, " bArise
, anoint
him; for this
is he."
Then Samuel took
the horn
of oil
and aanointed
him in the midst
of his brothers
; and bthe Spirit
of the LORD
came
mightily
upon David
from that day
forward
. And Samuel
arose
and went
to Ramah
.
aNow the Spirit of the LORD
departed
from Saul
, and ban evil
spirit
from the LORD
terrorized
him.
Saul's servants
then said
to him, "Behold
now
, an evil
spirit
from God
is terrorizing
you.
"Let our lord now
command
your servants
who are before
you. Let them seek
a man
who is a skillful
player
on the harp
; and it shall come
about when the evil
spirit
from God
is on you, that ahe shall play
the harp with his hand
, and you will be well
."
So Saul said
to his servants
, "Provide
for me now
a man
who can play
well
and bring
him to me."
Then one of the young
men
said
, "Behold
, I have seen
a son
of Jesse
the Bethlehemite
who is a skillful
musician
, aa mighty
man
of valor
, a warrior
, one prudent
in speech
, and a handsome
man
; and bthe LORD
is with him."
So Saul sent
messengers
to Jesse
and said
, "Send
me your son
David
who
is with the flock
."
Jesse atook
a donkey
loaded with bread
and a jug
of wine
and a young
goat
, and sent
them to Saul
by David
his son
.
Then David came
to Saul
and 1 aattended
him; and 2Saul loved
him greatly
, and he became
his armor
bearer
.
Saul sent
to Jesse
, saying
, "Let David
now
stand
before
me, for he has found
favor
in my sight
."
So it came about whenever athe evil spirit
from God
came
to Saul
, David
would take
the harp
and play
it with his hand
; and Saul
would be refreshed
and be well
, and the evil
spirit
would depart
from him.