Samuel

3Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and buried him in Ramah, even in his own city. And Saul had put away those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land.

By now Samuel had died. All Israel had cried for him. They buried him in Ramah, his own town. Saul had also driven out of the land everyone who claimed to talk with the dead.

4And the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and pitched in Shunem: and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they pitched in Gilboa.

The Philistines came together and set up their camp at Shunem. Saul gathered all Israel and camped at Gilboa.

5And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled.

When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid. His heart shook inside him.

6And when Saul enquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.

Saul asked the LORD what to do. But the LORD did not answer him. No dream came. The Urim gave nothing. No prophet spoke.

7Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor.

So Saul told his servants, "Find me a woman who talks with the dead. I want to go and ask her." His servants said, "There is one at Endor."

8And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me him up, whom I shall name unto thee.

Saul dressed in different clothes so no one would know him. He took two men and came to the woman at night. He said, "Please call up a spirit for me. Bring up the one I name."

9And the woman said unto him, Behold, thou knowest what Saul hath done, how he hath cut off those that have familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land: wherefore then layest thou a snare for my life, to cause me to die?

The woman said, "You know what Saul has done. He has driven all such people out of the land. Why are you setting a trap to get me killed?"

10And Saul sware to her by the LORD, saying, As the LORD liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing.

Saul made a promise to her in the LORD's name. He said, "As surely as the LORD lives, you will not be punished for this."

11Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto thee? And he said, Bring me up Samuel.

The woman asked, "Who should I bring up for you?" He said, "Bring up Samuel."

12And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice: and the woman spake to Saul, saying, Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Saul.

When the woman saw Samuel, she screamed. She said to Saul, "Why did you trick me? You are Saul!"

13And the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what sawest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth.

The king said, "Do not be afraid. What do you see?" She said, "I see a godlike being coming up out of the ground."

14And he said unto her, What form is he of? And she said, An old man cometh up; and he is covered with a mantle. And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground, and bowed himself.

He asked, "What does he look like?" She said, "An old man is coming up. He is wearing a long robe." Then Saul knew it was Samuel. He bowed low with his face to the ground.

15And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up? And Saul answered, I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest make known unto me what I shall do.

Samuel said to Saul, "Why have you bothered me and brought me up?" Saul said, "I am in deep trouble. The Philistines are fighting me. God has left me. He does not answer me anymore, not by prophets and not by dreams. So I called you to tell me what to do."

16Then said Samuel, Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing the LORD is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy?

Samuel said, "Why ask me? The LORD has left you and has become your enemy.

17And the LORD hath done to him, as he spake by me: for the LORD hath rent the kingdom out of thine hand, and given it to thy neighbour, even to David:

The LORD has done just what he said through me. He has torn the kingdom out of your hand. He has given it to the man near you, to David.

18Because thou obeyedst not the voice of the LORD, nor executedst his fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore hath the LORD done this thing unto thee this day.

This is because you did not obey the LORD. You did not carry out his burning anger against the Amalekites. That is why the LORD has done this to you today.

19Moreover the LORD will also deliver Israel with thee into the hand of the Philistines: and to morrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me: the LORD also shall deliver the host of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.

The LORD will hand over Israel and you to the Philistines. Tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. The LORD will hand Israel's army over to the Philistines too."

20Then Saul fell straightway all along on the earth, and was sore afraid, because of the words of Samuel: and there was no strength in him; for he had eaten no bread all the day, nor all the night.

At once Saul fell flat on the ground. Samuel's words filled him with fear. He had no strength left. He had not eaten all day and all night.

21And the woman came unto Saul, and saw that he was sore troubled, and said unto him, Behold, thine handmaid hath obeyed thy voice, and I have put my life in my hand, and have hearkened unto thy words which thou spakest unto me.

The woman came to Saul and saw how upset he was. She said, "I did what you asked me to do. I risked my own life to obey your words.

22Now therefore, I pray thee, hearken thou also unto the voice of thine handmaid, and let me set a morsel of bread before thee; and eat, that thou mayest have strength, when thou goest on thy way.

Now please listen to me too. Let me set a little bread in front of you. Eat, so you will have strength for your journey."

23But he refused, and said, I will not eat. But his servants, together with the woman, compelled him; and he hearkened unto their voice. So he arose from the earth, and sat upon the bed.

He said no. "I will not eat," he said. But his servants and the woman kept urging him, and he gave in. He got up from the ground and sat on the bed.

24And the woman had a fat calf in the house; and she hasted, and killed it, and took flour, and kneaded it, and did bake unleavened bread thereof:

The woman had a well-fed calf at her house. She quickly killed it. She took flour, kneaded it, and baked flat bread with no yeast.

25And she brought it before Saul, and before his servants; and they did eat. Then they rose up, and went away that night.

She set the food in front of Saul and his servants, and they ate. Then they got up and left that same night.