| NET Bible | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Then Samuel took a small container of olive oil and poured it on Saul's head. Samuel kissed him and said, "The LORD has chosen you to lead his people Israel! You will rule over the LORD's people and you will deliver them from the power of the enemies who surround them. This will be your sign that the LORD has chosen you as leader over his inheritance. | 1Samuel took the flask of oil, poured it out on Saul's head, kissed him, and said, "Hasn't the LORD anointed you ruler over His inheritance? |
| 2When you leave me today, you will find two men near Rachel's tomb at Zelzah on Benjamin's border. They will say to you, 'The donkeys you have gone looking for have been found. Your father is no longer concerned about the donkeys but has become anxious about you two! He is asking, "What should I do about my son?"' | 2Today when you leave me, you'll find two men at Rachel's Grave at Zelzah in the land of Benjamin. They will say to you, 'The donkeys you went looking for have been found, and now your father has stopped being concerned about the donkeys and is worried about you, asking: What should I do about my son?' |
| 3"As you continue on from there, you will come to the tall tree of Tabor. At that point three men who are going up to God at Bethel will meet you. One of them will be carrying three young goats, one of them will be carrying three round loaves of bread, and one of them will be carrying a container of wine. | 3"You will proceed from there until you come to the oak of Tabor. Three men going up to God at Bethel will meet you there, one bringing three goats, one bringing three loaves of bread, and one bringing a skin of wine. |
| 4They will ask you how you're doing and will give you two loaves of bread. You will accept them. | 4They will ask how you are and give you two loaves of bread, which you will accept from them. |
| 5Afterward you will go to Gibeah of God, where there are Philistine officials. When you enter the town, you will meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place. They will have harps, tambourines, flutes, and lyres, and they will be prophesying. | 5"After that you will come to the Hill of God where there are Philistine garrisons. When you arrive at the city, you will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place prophesying. They will be preceded by harps, tambourines, flutes, and lyres. |
| 6Then the spirit of the LORD will rush upon you and you will prophesy with them. You will be changed into a different person. | 6The Spirit of the LORD will control you, you will prophesy with them, and you will be transformed into a different person. |
| 7"When these signs have taken place, do whatever your hand finds to do, for God will be with you. | 7When these signs have happened to you, do whatever your circumstances require because God is with you. |
| 8You will go down to Gilgal before me. I am going to join you there to offer burnt offerings and to make peace offerings. You should wait for seven days, until I arrive and tell you what to do." | 8Afterward, go ahead of me to Gilgal. I will come to you to offer burnt offerings and to sacrifice fellowship offerings. Wait seven days until I come to you and show you what to do." |
| 9As Saul turned to leave Samuel, God changed his inmost person. All these signs happened on that very day. | 9When Saul turned around to leave Samuel, God changed his heart, and all the signs came about that day. |
| 10When Saul and his servant arrived at Gibeah, a company of prophets was coming out to meet him. Then the spirit of God rushed upon Saul and he prophesied among them. | 10When Saul and his attendant arrived at Gibeah, a group of prophets met him. Then the Spirit of God took control of him, and he prophesied along with them. |
| 11When everyone who had known him previously saw him prophesying with the prophets, the people all asked one another, "What on earth has happened to the son of Kish? Does even Saul belong with the prophets?" | 11Everyone who knew him previously and saw him prophesy with the prophets asked each other, "What has happened to the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?" |
| 12A man who was from there replied, "And who is their father?" Therefore this became a proverb: "Is even Saul among the prophets?" | 12Then a man who was from there asked, "And who is their father?" As a result, "Is Saul also among the prophets?" became a popular saying. |
| 13When Saul had finished prophesying, he went to the high place. | 13Then Saul finished prophesying and went to the high place. |
| 14Saul's uncle asked him and his servant, "Where did you go?" Saul replied, "To look for the donkeys. But when we realized they were lost, we went to Samuel." | 14Saul's uncle asked him and his attendant, "Where did you go?" "To look for the donkeys," Saul answered. "When we saw they weren't there, we went to Samuel." |
| 15Saul's uncle said, "Tell me what Samuel said to you." | 15"Tell me," Saul's uncle asked, "what did Samuel say to you?" |
| 16Saul said to his uncle, "He assured us that the donkeys had been found." But Saul did not tell him what Samuel had said about the matter of kingship. | 16Saul told him, "He assured us the donkeys had been found." However, Saul did not tell him what Samuel had said about the matter of kingship. |
| 17Then Samuel called the people together before the LORD at Mizpah. | 17Samuel summoned the people to the LORD at Mizpah |
| 18He said to the Israelites, "This is what the LORD God of Israel says, 'I brought Israel up from Egypt and I delivered you from the power of the Egyptians and from the power of all the kingdoms that oppressed you. | 18and said to the Israelites, "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'I brought Israel out of Egypt, and I rescued you from the power of the Egyptians and all the kingdoms that were oppressing you.' |
| 19But today you have rejected your God who saves you from all your trouble and distress. You have said, "No! Appoint a king over us." Now take your positions before the LORD by your tribes and by your clans.'" | 19But today you have rejected your God, who saves you from all your troubles and afflictions. You said to Him, 'You must set a king over us.' Now therefore present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes and clans." |
| 20Then Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near, and the tribe of Benjamin was chosen by lot. | 20Samuel had all the tribes of Israel come forward, and the tribe of Benjamin was selected. |
| 21Then he brought the tribe of Benjamin near by its families, and the family of Matri was chosen by lot. At last Saul son of Kish was chosen by lot. But when they looked for him, he was nowhere to be found. | 21Then he had the tribe of Benjamin come forward by its clans, and the Matrite clan was selected. Finally, Saul son of Kish was selected. But when they searched for him, they could not find him. |
| 22So they inquired again of the LORD, "Has the man arrived here yet?" The LORD said, "He has hidden himself among the equipment." | 22They again inquired of the LORD, "Has the man come here yet?" The LORD replied, "There he is, hidden among the supplies." |
| 23So they ran and brought him from there. When he took his position among the people, he stood head and shoulders above them all. | 23They ran and got him from there. When he stood among the people, he stood a head taller than anyone else. |
| 24Then Samuel said to all the people, "Do you see the one whom the LORD has chosen? Indeed, there is no one like him among all the people!" All the people shouted out, "Long live the king!" | 24Samuel said to all the people, "Do you see the one the LORD has chosen? There is no one like him among the entire population." And all the people shouted, "Long live the king!" |
| 25Then Samuel talked to the people about how the kingship would work. He wrote it all down on a scroll and set it before the LORD. Then Samuel sent all the people away to their homes. | 25Samuel proclaimed to the people the rights of kingship. He wrote them on a scroll, which he placed in the presence of the LORD. Then Samuel sent all the people away, each to his home. |
| 26Even Saul went to his home in Gibeah. With him went some brave men whose hearts God had touched. | 26Saul also went to his home in Gibeah, and brave men whose hearts God had touched went with him. |
| 27But some wicked men said, "How can this man save us?" They despised him and did not even bring him a gift. But Saul said nothing about it. | 27But some wicked men said, "How can this guy save us?" They despised him and did not bring him a gift, but Saul said nothing. |
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