1 Samuel 16

1 And Jehovah said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from being king over Israel? fill thy horn with oil, and go: I will send thee to Jesse the Beth-lehemite; for I have provided me a king among his sons.

YHWH said to Samuel, "How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite; for I have provided a king for myself among his sons."

2 And Samuel said, How can I go? if Saul hear it, he will kill me. And Jehovah said, Take a heifer with thee, and say, I am come to sacrifice to Jehovah.

Samuel said, "How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me." YHWH said, "Take a heifer with you, and say, I have come to sacrifice to YHWH.

3 And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show thee what thou shalt do: and thou shalt anoint unto me him whom I name unto thee.

Call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do. You shall anoint to me him whom I name to you."

4 And Samuel did that which Jehovah spake, and came to Beth-lehem. And the elders of the city came to meet him trembling, and said, Comest thou peaceably?

And Samuel did what YHWH said, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the city came to meet him trembling. And they said, "Is your visit peaceful, seer?"

5 And he said, Peaceably; I am come to sacrifice unto Jehovah: sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice.

And he said, "Peaceful; I have come to sacrifice to YHWH. Sanctify yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice." He sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice.

6 And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely Jehovah’s anointed is before him.

It happened, when they had come, that he looked at Eliab, and said, "Surely YHWH's anointed is before him."

7 But Jehovah said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have rejected him: for [Jehovah seeth] not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but Jehovah looketh on the heart.

But YHWH said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For humans do not see as God sees, for humans look at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart."

8 Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, Neither hath Jehovah chosen this.

Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. He said, "Neither has YHWH chosen this one."

9 Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither hath Jehovah chosen this.

Then Jesse made Shimeah to pass by. He said, "Neither has YHWH chosen this one."

10 And Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Jehovah hath not chosen these.

And Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. But Samuel said, "YHWH has not chosen these."

11 And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he is keeping the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him; for we will not sit down till he come hither.

Then Samuel said to Jesse, "Are all your children here?" And he said, "There remains yet the youngest. Look, he is tending the sheep." And Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and get him, for we will not sit down until he comes here."

12 And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look upon. And Jehovah said, Arise, anoint him; for this is he.

So he sent and brought him in. And he was reddish brown, and had beautiful eyes, and was handsome. And YHWH said, "Arise, anoint him, for he is the one."

13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of Jehovah came mightily upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.

Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brothers: and the Spirit of YHWH came mightily on David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.

14 Now the Spirit of Jehovah departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from Jehovah troubled him.

Now the Spirit of YHWH departed from Saul, and a harmful spirit from YHWH tormented him.

15 And Saul’s servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee.

Saul's servants said to him, "See now, a harmful spirit from God is tormenting you.

16 Let our lord now command thy servants, that are before thee, to seek out a man who is a skilful player on the harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well.

Let our lord now command your servants who are before you, to seek out a man who is a skillful player on the harp. It shall happen, when the harmful spirit is on you, that he shall play with his hand, and you shall be well, and it will give you relief."

17 And Saul said unto his servants, Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me.

Saul said to his servants, "Provide me now a man who can play well, and bring him to me."

18 Then answered one of the young men, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Beth-lehemite, that is skilful in playing, and a mighty man of valor, and a man of war, and prudent in speech, and a comely person; and Jehovah is with him.

Then one of the young men answered, and said, "Look, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, and a mighty man of valor, and a warrior, and articulate in speech, and a handsome man; and YHWH is with him."

19 Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said, Send me David thy son, who is with the sheep.

Therefore Saul sent messengers to Jesse, and said, "Send me David your son, who is with the sheep."

20 And Jesse took an ass [laden] with bread, and a bottle of wine, and a kid, and sent them by David his son unto Saul.

And Jesse took a donkey and loaded it with an omer of bread, and a skin of wine, and a young goat, and sent them by David his son to Saul.

21 And David came to Saul, and stood before him: and he loved him greatly; and he became his armorbearer.

David came to Saul, and stood before him. He loved him greatly; and he became his armor bearer.

22 And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David, I pray thee, stand before me; for he hath found favor in my sight.

Saul sent to Jesse, saying, "Please let David stand before me; for he has found favor in my sight."

23 And it came to pass, when the [evil] spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took the harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.

It happened, when the spirit from God was on Saul, that David took the harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the harmful spirit departed from him.