| English Standard Version | NET Bible |
| 1The LORD said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over 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 for myself a king among his sons.” | 1The LORD said to Samuel, "How long do you intend to mourn for Saul? I have rejected him as king over Israel. Fill your horn with olive oil and go! I am sending you to Jesse in Bethlehem, for I have selected a king for myself from among his sons." |
| 2And Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me.” And the LORD said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.’ | 2Samuel replied, "How can I go? Saul will hear about it and kill me!" But the LORD said, "Take a heifer with you and say, 'I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.' |
| 3And invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do. And you shall anoint for me him whom I declare to you.” | 3Then invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you should do. You will anoint for me the one I point out to you." |
| 4Samuel did what the LORD commanded and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling and said, “Do you come peaceably?” | 4Samuel did what the LORD told him. When he arrived in Bethlehem, the elders of the city were afraid to meet him. They said, "Do you come in peace?" |
| 5And he said, “Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Consecrate yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice.” And he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. | 5He replied, "Yes, in peace. I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Consecrate yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice." So he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. |
| 6When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, “Surely the LORD’s anointed is before him.” | 6When they arrived, Samuel noticed Eliab and said to himself, "Surely, here before the LORD stands his chosen king!" |
| 7But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.” | 7But the LORD said to Samuel, "Don't be impressed by his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. God does not view things the way men do. People look on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." |
| 8Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, “Neither has the LORD chosen this one.” | 8Then Jesse called Abinadab and presented him to Samuel. But Samuel said, "The LORD has not chosen this one, either." |
| 9Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “Neither has the LORD chosen this one.” | 9Then Jesse presented Shammah. But Samuel said, "The LORD has not chosen this one either." |
| 10And Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, “The LORD has not chosen these.” | 10Jesse presented seven of his sons to Samuel. But Samuel said to Jesse, "The LORD has not chosen any of these." |
| 11Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, but behold, he is keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and get him, for we will not sit down till he comes here.” | 11Then Samuel said to Jesse, "Is that all of the young men?" Jesse replied, "There is still the youngest one, but he's taking care of the flock." Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and get him, for we cannot turn our attention to other things until he comes here." |
| 12And he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy and had beautiful eyes and was handsome. And the LORD said, “Arise, anoint him, for this is he.” | 12So Jesse had him brought in. Now he was ruddy, with attractive eyes and a handsome appearance. The LORD said, "Go and anoint him. This is the one!" |
| 13Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah. | 13So Samuel took the horn full of olive oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers. The Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day onward. Then Samuel got up and went to Ramah. |
| 14Now the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and a harmful spirit from the LORD tormented him. | 14Now the Spirit of the LORD had turned away from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD tormented him. |
| 15And Saul’s servants said to him, “Behold now, a harmful spirit from God is tormenting you. | 15Then Saul's servants said to him, "Look, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you!" |
| 16Let our lord now command your servants who are before you to seek out a man who is skillful in playing the lyre, and when the harmful spirit from God is upon you, he will play it, and you will be well.” | 16Let our lord instruct his servants who are here before you to look for a man who knows how to play the lyre. Then whenever the evil spirit from God comes upon you, he can play the lyre and you will feel better." |
| 17So Saul said to his servants, “Provide for me a man who can play well and bring him to me.” | 17So Saul said to his servants, "Find me a man who plays well and bring him to me." |
| 18One of the young men answered, “Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a man of good presence, and the LORD is with him.” | 18One of his attendants replied, "I have seen a son of Jesse in Bethlehem who knows how to play the lyre. He is a brave warrior and is articulate and handsome, for the LORD is with him." |
| 19Therefore Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me David your son, who is with the sheep.” | 19So Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, "Send me your son David, who is out with the sheep. |
| 20And Jesse took a donkey laden with bread and a skin of wine and a young goat and sent them by David his son to Saul. | 20So Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a container of wine, and a young goat and sent them to Saul with his son David. |
| 21And David came to Saul and entered his service. And Saul loved him greatly, and he became his armor-bearer. | 21David came to Saul and stood before him. Saul liked him a great deal, and he became his armor bearer. |
| 22And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, “Let David remain in my service, for he has found favor in my sight.” | 22Then Saul sent word to Jesse saying, "Let David be my servant, for I really like him." |
| 23And whenever the harmful spirit from God was upon Saul, David took the lyre and played it with his hand. So Saul was refreshed and was well, and the harmful spirit departed from him. | 23So whenever the spirit from God would come upon Saul, David would take his lyre and play it. This would bring relief to Saul and make him feel better. Then the evil spirit would leave him alone. |
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