1 Samuel 16

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.

1God said to Samuel, "How long will you be sad about Saul? I have said he can no longer be king of Israel. Fill your horn with olive oil and go. I am sending you to Jesse, who lives in Bethlehem. I have picked one of his sons to be king."

NoteA horn was a container made from an animal's horn. It was used to hold oil. Pouring oil on someone's head was how Israel showed that God had chosen that person to be king.

2And 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.

2Samuel said, "How can I go? If Saul hears about it, he will kill me." God said, "Take a young cow with you. Say, 'I have come to give a gift to God.'"

3And 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.

3"Invite Jesse to come to the offering. Then I will show you what to do. Pour oil on the one I point out to you."

4And 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?

4Samuel did what God said and went to Bethlehem. The leaders of the town were shaking with fear when he came. They asked, "Have you come in peace?"

5And 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.

5He said, "In peace. I have come to give a gift to God. Get yourselves ready, and come with me." Then he helped Jesse and his sons get ready and invited them.

Note"Sanctify yourselves" means to get clean and ready in the special way Israel did before worship.

6And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD’s anointed is before him.

6When they came, Samuel looked at Eliab. He thought, "Surely this is the man God has chosen."

7But 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.

7But God said to Samuel, "Do not look at his face or how tall he is. I have not chosen him. People look at the outside. But God looks at the heart."

8Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this.

8Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him walk past Samuel. Samuel said, "God has not chosen this one either."

9Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this.

9Then Jesse had Shammah walk past. Samuel said, "God has not chosen this one either."

10Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The LORD hath not chosen these.

10Jesse had seven of his sons walk past Samuel. Samuel said to Jesse, "God has not chosen any of these."

11And 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.

11Samuel asked Jesse, "Are these all your sons?" Jesse said, "There is still the youngest. He is out taking care of the sheep." Samuel said, "Send for him. We will not sit down to eat until he comes."

12And 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.

12So they sent for him and brought him in. His skin had a healthy glow. He had lovely eyes and a fine face. God said, "Get up and pour the oil on him. This is the one."

NoteThe old word "ruddy" means having a reddish, healthy skin color.

13Then 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.

13Samuel took the horn of oil. He poured it on David while his brothers watched. From that day on, God's Spirit came powerfully on David. Then Samuel got up and went home to Ramah.

14But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.

14God's Spirit left Saul. And a harmful spirit sent from God troubled him.

15And Saul’s servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee.

15Saul's servants said to him, "Look, a harmful spirit from God is troubling you."

16Let 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.

16"Sir, tell us to go find a man who plays the harp well. When the harmful spirit from God comes on you, he will play. Then you will feel better."

17And Saul said unto his servants, Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me.

17Saul said to his servants, "Find me a man who plays well. Bring him to me."

18Then 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.

18One of the servants answered, "I have seen a son of Jesse from Bethlehem. He plays well. He is brave and strong, and a fighter. He speaks wisely, and he looks fine. And God is with him."

19Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said, Send me David thy son, which is with the sheep.

19So Saul sent messengers to Jesse. He said, "Send me your son David, who is out with the sheep."

20And Jesse took an ass laden with bread, and a bottle of wine, and a kid, and sent them by David his son unto Saul.

20Jesse loaded a donkey with bread. He also sent a bag of wine and a young goat. He sent them to Saul with his son David.

NoteThe KJV says "a bottle of wine." Back then a bottle was made from animal skin, not glass.

21And David came to Saul, and stood before him: and he loved him greatly; and he became his armourbearer.

21David came to Saul and began working for him. Saul liked him very much. David became the one who carried Saul's weapons.

22And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David, I pray thee, stand before me; for he hath found favour in my sight.

22Then Saul sent word to Jesse. He said, "Please let David stay and work for me. I am pleased with him."

23And 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.

23Whenever the spirit from God came on Saul, David took his harp and played. Then Saul felt better and the harmful spirit left him.