I Samuelis 16

1 Dixitque Dominus ad Samuelem: Usquequo tu luges Saul, cum ego proiecerim eum ne regnet super Israel? imple cornu tuum oleo, et veni, ut mittam te ad Isai Bethlehemitem: providi enim in filiis eius mihi regem.

Now the LORD said to Samuel, “How long are you going to mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem, for I have selected from his sons a king for Myself.”

2 Et ait Samuel: Quo modo vadam? audiet enim Saul, et interficiet me. Et ait Dominus: Vitulum de armento tolles in manu tua, et dices: Ad immolandum Domino veni.

“How can I go?” Samuel asked. “Saul will hear of it and kill me!” The LORD answered, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.’

3 Et vocabis Isai ad victimam, et ego ostendam tibi quid facias, et unges quemcumque monstravero tibi.

Then invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you are to do. You are to anoint for Me the one I indicate.”

4 Fecit ergo Samuel, sicut locutus est ei Dominus. Venitque in Bethlehem, et admirati sunt seniores civitatis, occurrentes ei, dixeruntque: Pacificusne est ingressus tuus?

So Samuel did what the LORD had said and went to Bethlehem. When the elders of the town met him, they trembled and asked, “Do you come in peace?”

5 Et ait: Pacificus: ad immolandum Domino veni, sanctificamini, et venite mecum ut immolem. Sanctificavit ergo Isai et filios eius, et vocavit eos ad sacrificium.

“In peace,” he replied. “I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Consecrate yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

6 Cumque ingressi essent, vidit Eliab, et ait: Num coram Domino est Christus eius?

When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and said, “Surely here before the LORD is His anointed.”

7 Et dixit Dominus ad Samuelem: Ne respicias vultum eius, neque altitudinem staturae eius: quoniam abieci eum, nec iuxta intuitum hominis ego iudico: homo enim videt ea quae apparent, Dominus autem intuetur cor.

But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or height, for I have rejected him; the LORD does not see as man does. For man sees the outward appearance, but the LORD sees the heart.”

8 Et vocavit Isai Abinadab, et adduxit eum coram Samuele. Qui dixit: Nec hunc elegit Dominus.

Then Jesse called Abinadab and presented him to Samuel, who said, “The LORD has not chosen this one either.”

9 Adduxit autem Isai Samma, de quo ait: Etiam hunc non elegit Dominus.

Next Jesse presented Shammah, but Samuel said, “The LORD has not chosen this one either.”

10 Adduxit itaque Isai septem filios suos coram Samuele: et ait Samuel ad Isai: Non elegit Dominus ex istis.

Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel told him, “The LORD has not chosen any of these.”

11 Dixitque Samuel ad Isai: Numquid iam completi sunt filii? Qui respondit: Adhuc reliquus est parvulus, et pascit oves. Et ait Samuel ad Isai: Mitte, et adduc eum: nec enim discumbemus prius quam huc ille veniat.

And Samuel asked him, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest,” Jesse replied, “but he is tending the sheep.” “Send for him,” Samuel replied. “For we will not sit down to eat until he arrives.”

12 Misit ergo, et adduxit eum. Erat autem rufus, et pulcher aspectu, decoraque facie. et ait Dominus: Surge, et unge eum, ipse est enim.

So Jesse sent for his youngest son and brought him in. He was ruddy, with beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance. And the LORD said, “Rise and anoint him, for he is the one.”

13 Tulit ergo Samuel cornu olei, et unxit eum in medio fratrum eius: et directus est Spiritus Domini a die illa in David, et deinceps: surgensque Samuel abiit in Ramatha.

So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day forward. Then Samuel set out and went to Ramah.

14 Spiritus autem Domini recessit a Saul et exagitabat eum spiritus nequam, a Domino.

After the Spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul, a spirit of distress from the LORD began to torment him.

15 Dixeruntque servi Saul ad eum: Ecce spiritus Dei malus exagitat te.

Saul’s servants said to him, “Surely a spirit of distress from God is tormenting you.

16 Iubeat dominus noster, et servi tui, qui coram te sunt, quaerent hominem scientem psallere cithara, ut quando arripuerit te spiritus Domini malus, psallat manu sua, et levius feras.

Let our lord command your servants here to seek out someone who can skillfully play the harp. Whenever the spirit of distress from God is upon you, he is to play it, and you will be well.”

17 Et ait Saul ad servos suos: Providete ergo mihi aliquem bene psallentem, et adducite eum ad me.

And Saul commanded his servants, “Find me someone who plays well, and bring him to me.”

18 Et respondens unus de pueris, ait: Ecce vidi filium Isai Bethlehemitem scientem psallere, et fortissimum robore, et virum bellicosum, et prudentem in verbis, et virum pulchrum: et Dominus est cum eo.

One of the servants answered, “I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the harp. He is a mighty man of valor, a warrior, eloquent and handsome, and the LORD is with him.”

19 Misit ergo Saul nuncios ad Isai, dicens: Mitte ad me David filium tuum, qui est in pascuis.

So Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.”

20 Tulit itaque Isai asinum plenum panibus, et lagenam vini, et hoedum de capris unum, et misit per manum David filii sui Sauli.

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

21 Et venit David ad Saul, et stetit coram eo: at ille dilexit eum nimis, et factus est eius armiger.

When David came to Saul and entered his service, Saul admired him greatly, and David became his armor-bearer.

22 Misitque Saul ad Isai, dicens: Stet David in conspectu meo: invenit enim gratiam in oculis meis.

Then Saul sent word to Jesse, saying, “Let David remain in my service, for I am pleased with him.”

23 Igitur quandocumque spiritus Domini malus arripiebat Saul, David tollebat citharam, et percutiebat manu sua, et refocillabatur Saul, et levius habebat. recedebat enim ab eo spiritus malus.

And whenever the spirit from God came upon Saul, David would pick up his harp and play, and Saul would become well, and the spirit of distress would depart from him.