New Living Translation | International Standard Version |
1About that time the Philistines mustered their armies for another war with Israel. King Achish told David, “You and your men will be expected to join me in battle.” | 1At that time the Philistines assembled their army for war to fight against Israel. Achish told David, "You know, of course, that you and your men will go out with me into the battle." |
2“Very well!” David agreed. “Now you will see for yourself what we can do.” Then Achish told David, “I will make you my personal bodyguard for life.” | 2David told Achish, "Very well, you will now see what your servant will do." Achish told David, "Very well, I'll appoint you as my permanent bodyguard." |
3Meanwhile, Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him. He was buried in Ramah, his hometown. And Saul had banned from the land of Israel all mediums and those who consult the spirits of the dead. | 3Now Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in his own town of Ramah. Saul had expelled the mediums and spiritists from the land. |
4The Philistines set up their camp at Shunem, and Saul gathered all the army of Israel and camped at Gilboa. | 4The Philistines assembled, moved out, and camped at Shunem, while Saul assembled all Israel and camped at Gilboa. |
5When Saul saw the vast Philistine army, he became frantic with fear. | 5When Saul saw the Philistine camp, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly. |
6He asked the LORD what he should do, but the LORD refused to answer him, either by dreams or by sacred lots or by the prophets. | 6Saul inquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him, either through dreams or Urim or through prophets. |
7Saul then said to his advisers, “Find a woman who is a medium, so I can go and ask her what to do.” His advisers replied, “There is a medium at Endor.” | 7Saul told his servants, "Find me a woman who is a medium so I can go to her and make my inquiry through her." His servants told him, "Look, there's a woman at Endor who is a medium." |
8So Saul disguised himself by wearing ordinary clothing instead of his royal robes. Then he went to the woman’s home at night, accompanied by two of his men. “I have to talk to a man who has died,” he said. “Will you call up his spirit for me?” | 8Saul disguised himself, putting on different clothes. He went along with two men to the woman at night. He said, "Consult a familiar spirit for me and bring up for me the one whom I tell you." |
9“Are you trying to get me killed?” the woman demanded. “You know that Saul has outlawed all the mediums and all who consult the spirits of the dead. Why are you setting a trap for me?” | 9The woman told him, "Look, you know what Saul has done. He has removed mediums and spiritists from the land, so why are you trying to entrap me, so as to cause my death?" |
10But Saul took an oath in the name of the LORD and promised, “As surely as the LORD lives, nothing bad will happen to you for doing this.” | 10Saul swore to her by the LORD: "As surely as the LORD lives, no punishment will come on you for this thing." |
11Finally, the woman said, “Well, whose spirit do you want me to call up?” “Call up Samuel,” Saul replied. | 11The woman said, "Whom shall I bring up for you?" Saul said, "Bring up Samuel for me." |
12When the woman saw Samuel, she screamed, “You’ve deceived me! You are Saul!” | 12When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out loudly. The woman told Saul, "Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!" |
13“Don’t be afraid!” the king told her. “What do you see?” “I see a god coming up out of the earth,” she said. | 13The king told her, "Don't be afraid; but what do you see?" The woman told Saul, "I see a divine being coming up out of the ground." |
14“What does he look like?” Saul asked. “He is an old man wrapped in a robe,” she replied. Saul realized it was Samuel, and he fell to the ground before him. | 14Saul told her, "What does he look like?" She said, "An old man is coming up, and he's wrapped in a robe." Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed low to the ground and prostrated himself. |
15“Why have you disturbed me by calling me back?” Samuel asked Saul. “Because I am in deep trouble,” Saul replied. “The Philistines are at war with me, and God has left me and won’t reply by prophets or dreams. So I have called for you to tell me what to do.” | 15Samuel told Saul, "Why did you disturb me by bringing me up?" Saul said, "I'm in great distress. The Philistines are waging war against me. God has departed from me and won't answer me anymore, either by messages written by the hand of the prophets or by dreams. So I've summoned you to tell me what I should do." |
16But Samuel replied, “Why ask me, since the LORD has left you and has become your enemy? | 16Samuel said, "Why do you ask me, since the LORD has departed from you and become your enemy? |
17The LORD has done just as he said he would. He has torn the kingdom from you and given it to your rival, David. | 17The LORD has done to you exactly as he spoke through me. The LORD has torn the kingdom away from you and has given it to your colleague David. |
18The LORD has done this to you today because you refused to carry out his fierce anger against the Amalekites. | 18Because you didn't obey the LORD and didn't display his fierce anger against Amalek, therefore, the LORD will do this thing to you today. |
19What’s more, the LORD will hand you and the army of Israel over to the Philistines tomorrow, and you and your sons will be here with me. The LORD will bring down the entire army of Israel in defeat.” | 19The LORD is giving both you, and Israel with you, into Philistine control. Tomorrow, the LORD will give you, your sons with you, and also the army of Israel into the control of the Philistines." |
20Saul fell full length on the ground, paralyzed with fright because of Samuel’s words. He was also faint with hunger, for he had eaten nothing all day and all night. | 20Saul immediately fell down full-length on the ground. He was terrified because of Samuel's words, and he had no strength because he had not eaten food all day and all night. |
21When the woman saw how distraught he was, she said, “Sir, I obeyed your command at the risk of my life. | 21Then the woman came to Saul and saw that he was very disturbed. She told him, "Look, your servant obeyed you. I put my life into your hands, and I listened to your words that you spoke to me. |
22Now do what I say, and let me give you a little something to eat so you can regain your strength for the trip back.” | 22Now, please listen to your servant. I'll put a piece of bread before you so you can eat and have strength to go on your way." |
23But Saul refused to eat anything. Then his advisers joined the woman in urging him to eat, so he finally yielded and got up from the ground and sat on the couch. | 23Saul refused, saying, "I won't eat!" Both his servants and the woman urged him, and so he listened to them. He got up off the ground and sat on the bed. |
24The woman had been fattening a calf, so she hurried out and killed it. She took some flour, kneaded it into dough and baked unleavened bread. | 24The woman had a fattened calf in the house, and she quickly slaughtered it. She took flour, kneaded it, and baked unleavened bread. |
25She brought the meal to Saul and his advisers, and they ate it. Then they went out into the night. | 25She brought it to Saul and to his servants, and they ate. Then they got up and went out that night. |
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. | The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. |
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