1 Samuel 9
1 Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjaminite, a mighty man of valor.
Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name [was] Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjaminite, a mighty man of power.
2 He had a son, whose name was Saul, a handsome young man; and there was no one among the children of Israel more handsome than he was. From his shoulders and upward he was taller than any of the people.
And he had a son, whose name [was] Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly: and [there was] not among the children of Israel a more handsome person than he: from his shoulders and upward [he was] higher than any of the people.
3 Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul's father, were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son, "Take now one of the servants with you, and arise, go and look for the donkeys." So Saul got up and took one of the servants of his father with him and went to look for the donkeys of his father Kish.
And the asses of Kish, Saul's father, were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son, Take now one of the servants with thee, and arise, go seek the asses.
4 He passed through the hill country of Ephraim and passed through the land of Shalishah, but they did not find them. Then they passed through the land of Shaalim, but they weren't there. Then he passed through the land of the Jaminites, but they did not find them.
And he passed through mount Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalisha, but they found [them] not: then they passed through the land of Shalim, and [there they were] not: and he passed through the land of the Benjaminites, but they found [them] not.
5 When they had come to Zuph, Saul said to his servant who was with him, "Come, and let us return, lest my father stop caring about the donkeys, and be anxious for us."
[And] when they had come to the land of Zuf, Saul said to his servant that [was] with him, Come, and let us return; lest my father leave [caring] for the asses, and be anxious for us.
6 He said to him, "See now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is a man who is held in honor. All that he says surely comes to pass. Now let us go there. Perhaps he can tell us concerning our journey on which we have set out."
And he said to him, Behold now, [there is] in this city a man of God, and [he is] an honorable man; all that he saith cometh surely to pass: now let us go thither; it may be he can show us our way that we should go.
7 Then Saul said to his servant, "But look, if we go, what shall we bring the man? For the bread is gone in our vessels, and there is no gift to bring to the man of God. What do we have?"
Then said Saul to his servant, But behold, [if] we go, what shall we bring to the man? for the bread is spent in our vessels, and [there] is not a present to bring to the man of God: what have we?
8 The servant answered Saul again, and said, "Look, I have in my hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver. You shall give that to the man of God, to tell us about our journey."
And the servant answered Saul again, and said, Behold, I have here at hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver: [that] will I give to the man of God, to tell us our way.
9 (In earlier times in Israel, whenever someone went to inquire of God, he would say, "Come, and let us go to the seer"; for he who is now called a prophet was formerly called a seer.)
(Formerly in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, thus he spoke, Come, and let us go to the seer: for [he that is] now [called] a Prophet was formerly called a Seer.)
10 Then Saul said to his servant, "Well said. Come, let us go." So they went to the city where the man of God was.
Then said Saul to his servant, Well said; come, let us go: so they went to the city where the man of God [was].
11 As they went up the ascent to the city, they found young maidens going out to draw water, and said to them, "Is the seer here?"
[And] as they went up the hill to the city, they found young maidens going out to draw water, and said to them, Is the seer here?
12 And they answered them, and said, "He is. Look, he is ahead of you. Just now he has come to the city since the people have a sacrifice today on the high place.
And they answered them, and said, He is; behold, [he is] before you: make haste now, for he came to-day to the city; for [there is] a sacrifice of the people to-day in the high place:
13 As soon as you have come into the city, you shall immediately find him, before he goes up to the high place to eat; for the people will not eat until he comes, because he must bless the sacrifice, and afterwards those who are invited may eat. Now therefore go up for you shall find him right now."
As soon as ye shall enter the city, ye will straightway find him, before he goeth up to the high place to eat: for the people will not eat until he cometh, because he doth bless the sacrifice; [and] afterwards they eat that are invited. Now therefore go up: for about this time ye will find him.
14 They went up to the city. As they came within the city, look, Samuel came out toward them, to go up to the high place.
And they went up into the city: [and] when they had come into the city, behold, Samuel came out meeting them, to go up to the high place.
15 Now the LORD had revealed to Samuel a day before Saul came, saying,
Now the LORD had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying,
16 "Tomorrow about this time I will send you a man from Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be prince over my people Israel; and he shall save my people out of the hand of the Philistines; for I have seen the suffering of my people, because their cry has come to me."
To-morrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin, and thou shalt anoint him [to be] captain over my people Israel, that he may save my people from the hand of the Philistines: for I have looked upon my people, because their cry has come to me.
17 When Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said to him, "Look, the man of whom I spoke to you. This one shall have authority over my people."
And when Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said to him, Behold the man of whom I spoke to thee! this same shall reign over my people.
18 Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the city, and said, "Tell me where is the house of the seer?"
Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, where the seer's house [is].
19 And Samuel answered Saul, and said, "I am he. Go up before me to the high place, for you will eat with me today. In the morning I will let you go, and will tell you all that is in your heart.
And Samuel answered Saul, and said, I [am] the seer: go up before me to the high place; for ye shall eat with me to-day, and to-morrow I will let thee go, and will tell thee all that [is] in thy heart.
20 As for your donkeys who were lost three days ago, do not set your mind on them; for they have been found. And for whom does all Israel desire? Is it not for you, and for the house of your father?"
And as for thy asses that were lost three days ago, set not thy mind on them; for they are found. And on whom [is] all the desire of Israel? [Is it] not on thee, and on all thy father's house?
21 Saul answered, "Am I not a Benjaminite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? And my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then do you speak to me like this?"
And Saul answered and said, [Am] not I a Benjaminite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then speakest thou so to me?
22 Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them into the guest room, and made them sit in the best place among those who were invited, who were about thirty persons.
And Samuel took Saul, and his servant, and brought them into the parlor, and made them sit in the chief place among them that were invited, who [were] about thirty persons.
23 And Samuel said to the cook, "Bring the portion which I gave you, of which I told you to set aside."
And Samuel said to the cook, Bring the portion which I gave thee, of which I said to thee, Set it by thee.
24 The cook picked up the leg, and that which was attached to it, and set it before Saul. And he said, "Look, here is what has been kept for you. Set it before you and eat, because it was kept especially for you until the right time; because I said, 'I have invited the people.'" So Saul ate with Samuel that day.
And the cook took up the shoulder, and [that] which [was] upon it, and set [it] before Saul. And [Samuel] said, Behold that which is left! set [it] before thee, [and] eat; for to this time hath it been kept for thee since I said, I have invited the people. So Saul ate with Samuel that day.
25 When they had come down from the high place into the city, they prepared a bed for Saul on the roof,
And when they had come down from the high place into the city, [Samuel] communed with Saul upon the top of the house.
26 and he slept. And it happened about daybreak that Samuel called to Saul on the roof, saying, "Get up, that I may send you away." So Saul got up, and he and Samuel went outside.
And they rose early: and it came to pass about the spring of the day, that Samuel called Saul to the top of the house, saying, Arise, that I may send thee away. And Saul arose, and they went out both of them, he and Samuel, abroad.
27 As they were going down to the edge of the city, Samuel said to Saul, "Tell the servant to go on ahead of us. But you remain here awhile, so that I may make known to you the word of God."
[And] as they were going down to the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Bid the servant pass on before us, (and he passed on, ) but stand thou still a while, that I may show thee the word of God.
