1 And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for
Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn
with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have
provided me a king among his sons.
2 And
Samuel said, How can I go? if Saul hear it, he will kill me. And the LORD
said, Take an heifer with thee, and say, I am come to sacrifice to the LORD.
3 And
call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will shew thee what thou shalt do: and thou
shalt anoint unto me him whom I name unto thee.
4 And
Samuel did that which the LORD spake, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of
the town trembled at his coming, and said, Comest thou peaceably?
5 And
he said, Peaceably: I am come to sacrifice unto the LORD: sanctify yourselves,
and come with me to the sacrifice. And 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
the LORD'S anointed is before him.
7 But
the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his
stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on
the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.
8 Then
Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, Neither
hath the LORD chosen this.
9 Then
Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this.
10 Again,
Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse,
The LORD hath 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 keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto
Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither.
12 And
he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal
of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise,
anoint him: for this is he.
13 Then
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. So Samuel rose
up, and went to Ramah.
14 But
the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD
troubled him.
15 And
Saul's servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth
thee.
16 Let
our lord now command thy servants, which are before thee, to seek out a man, who is a
cunning player on an 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.
17 And
Saul said unto his servants, Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to
me.
18 Then
answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the
Bethlehemite, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty
valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and
the LORD is with
him.
19 Wherefore
Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said, Send me David thy son, which 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.
21 And
David came to Saul, and stood before him: and he loved him greatly; and he
became his armourbearer.
22 And
Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David, I pray thee, stand before me; for he
hath found favour in my sight.
23 And
it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that
David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was
well, and the evil spirit departed from him.
