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1 And the Lord said to Samuel, How long do you mourn for Saul, whereas I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and come, I will send you to Jessae, to Bethleem; for I have seen amongst his sons a king for me. 2 And Samuel said, How can I go? whereas Saul will hear of it, and kill me: and the Lord said, Take a heifer in your hand and you shall say, I am come to sacrifice to the Lord. 3 And you shall call Jessae to the sacrifice, and I will make known to you what you shall do; and you shall anoint him whom I shall mention to you. 4 And Samuel did all that the Lord told him; and he came to Bethleem: and the elders of the city were amazed at meeting him, and said, * Do you come peaceably, you Seer? 5 And he said, † Peaceably: I am come to sacrifice to the Lord. Sanctify yourselves, and rejoice with me this day: and he sanctified Jessae and his sons, and he called them to the sacrifice. 6 And it came to pass when they came in, that he saw Eliab, and said, Surely the Lord's anointed is before him. 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, Look not on his ‡ appearance, nor on his stature, for I have rejected him; for God § sees not as man looks; for man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart. 8 And Jessae called Aminadab, and he passed before Samuel: and he said, Neither has God chosen this one. 9 And Jessae caused Sama to pass by: and he said, Neither has God chosen ** this one. 10 And Jessae caused his seven sons to pass before Samuel: and Samuel said, the Lord has not chosen these. 11 And Samuel said to Jessae, †† Have you no more sons? And Jessae said, There is yet ‡‡ a little one; behold, he tends the flock. And Samuel said to Jessae, Send and fetch him for we may not sit down till he comes. 12 And he sent and fetched him: and he was ruddy, with beauty of eyes, and §§ very goodly to behold. And the Lord said to Samuel, Arise, and anoint David, for he is good. 13 And Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the Lord *** came upon David from that day forward: and Samuel arose, and departed to Armathaim. 14 And the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord ††† tormented him. 15 And Saul's servants said to him, Behold now, an evil spirit from the Lord torments you. 16 Let now your servants speak before you, and let them seek for our lord a man skilled to play on the harp; and it shall come to pass when an evil spirit comes upon you and he shall play on his harp, that you shall be well, and he shall refresh you. 17 And Saul said to his servants, Look now out for me a ‡‡‡ skilful player, and bring him to me. 18 And one of his servants answered and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jessae the Bethleemite, and §§§ he understands playing on the harp, and the man is prudent, and a warrior, and wise in speech, and the man is handsome, and the Lord is with him. 19 And Saul sent messengers to Jessae, saying, Send to me your son David who is with your flock. 20 And Jessae took a homer of bread, and a bottle of wine, and one kid of the goats, and sent them by the hand of his son David to Saul. 21 And David went in to Saul, and stood before him; and he loved him greatly; and he became his armour-bearer. 22 And Saul sent to Jessae, saying, Let David, I pray you, stand before me, for he has found grace in my eyes. 23 And it came to pass when the evil spirit was upon Saul, that David took his harp, and played with his hand: and Saul was refreshed, and it was well with him, and the evil spirit departed from him.
* 16:4 Gr. is 'your coming in peace.' † 16:5 Gr. peace. ‡ 16:7 Or, face. § 16:7 Gr. will not see. ** 16:9 Gr. in this one. †† 16:11 Gr. Are your sons come to an end? ‡‡ 16:11 Or, the youngest. §§ 16:12 Gr. goodly in the sight of the Lord. *** 16:13 Gr. leapt upon. ††† 16:14 Gr. choked him. ‡‡‡ 16:17 Gr. man playing skilfully. §§§ 16:18 Gr. him understanding.