1 Samuel 16

Berean Standard Bible

1Now the LORD said to Samuel, “How long are you going to mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem, for I have selected from his sons a king for Myself.”

2“How can I go?” Samuel asked. “Saul will hear of it and kill me!” The LORD answered, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.’

3Then invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you are to do. You are to anoint for Me the one I indicate.”

4So Samuel did what the LORD had said and went to Bethlehem. When the elders of the town met him, they trembled and asked, “Do you come in peace?”

5“In peace,” he replied. “I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Consecrate yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

6When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and said, “Surely here before the LORD is His anointed.”

7But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or height, for I have rejected him; the LORD does not see as man does. For man sees the outward appearance, but the LORD sees the heart.”

8Then Jesse called Abinadab and presented him to Samuel, who said, “The LORD has not chosen this one either.”

9Next Jesse presented Shammah, but Samuel said, “The LORD has not chosen this one either.”

10Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel told him, “The LORD has not chosen any of these.”

11And Samuel asked him, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest,” Jesse replied, “but he is tending the sheep.” “Send for him,” Samuel replied. “For we will not sit down to eat until he arrives.”

12So Jesse sent for his youngest son and brought him in. He was ruddy, with beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance. And the LORD said, “Rise and anoint him, for he is the one.”

13So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day forward. Then Samuel set out and went to Ramah.

14After the Spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul, a spirit of distress from the LORD began to torment him.

15Saul’s servants said to him, “Surely a spirit of distress from God is tormenting you.

16Let our lord command your servants here to seek out someone who can skillfully play the harp. Whenever the spirit of distress from God is upon you, he is to play it, and you will be well.”

17And Saul commanded his servants, “Find me someone who plays well, and bring him to me.”

18One of the servants answered, “I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the harp. He is a mighty man of valor, a warrior, eloquent and handsome, and the LORD is with him.”

19So Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.”

20And Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a skin of wine, and one young goat, and sent them to Saul with his son David.

21When David came to Saul and entered his service, Saul admired him greatly, and David became his armor-bearer.

22Then Saul sent word to Jesse, saying, “Let David remain in my service, for I am pleased with him.”

23And whenever the spirit from God came upon Saul, David would pick up his harp and play, and Saul would become well, and the spirit of distress would depart from him.

Reina-Valera 1909

1Y DIJO Jehová á Samuel: ¿Hasta cuándo has tú de llorar á Saúl, habiéndolo yo desechado para que no reine sobre Israel? Hinche tu cuerno de aceite, y ven, te enviaré á Isaí de Beth-lehem: porque de sus hijos me he provisto de rey.

2Y dijo Samuel: ¿Cómo iré? Si Saúl lo entendiere, me matará. Jehová respondió: Toma contigo una becerra de la vacada, y di: A sacrificar á Jehová he venido.

3Y llama á Isaí al sacrificio, y yo te enseñaré lo que has de hacer; y ungirme has al que yo te dijere.

4Hizo pues Samuel como le dijo Jehová: y luego que él llegó á Beth-lehem, los ancianos de la ciudad le salieron á recibir con miedo, y dijeron: ¿Es pacífica tu venida?

5Y él respondió: Sí, vengo á sacrificar á Jehová; santificaos, y venid conmigo al sacrificio. Y santificando él á Isaí y á sus hijos, llamólos al sacrificio.

6Y aconteció que como ellos vinieron, él vió á Eliab, y dijo: De cierto delante de Jehová está su ungido.

7Y Jehová respondió á Samuel: No mires á su parecer, ni á lo grande de su estatura, porque yo lo desecho; porque Jehová mira no lo que el hombre mira; pues que el hombre mira lo que está delante de sus ojos, mas Jehová mira el corazón.

8Entonces llamó Isaí á Abinadab, é hízole pasar delante de Samuel, el cual dijo: Ni á éste ha elegido Jehová.

9Hizo luego pasar Isaí á Samma. Y él dijo: Tampoco á éste ha elegido Jehová.

10E hizo pasar Isaí sus siete hijos delante de Samuel; mas Samuel dijo á Isaí: Jehová no ha elegido á éstos.

11Entonces dijo Samuel á Isaí: ¿Hanse acabado los mozos? Y él respondió: Aun queda el menor, que apacienta las ovejas. Y dijo Samuel á Isaí: Envía por él, porque no nos asentaremos á la mesa hasta que él venga aquí.

12Envió pues por él, é introdújolo; el cual era rubio, de hermoso parecer y de bello aspecto. Entonces Jehová dijo: Levántate y úngelo, que éste es.

13Y Samuel tomó el cuerno del aceite, y ungiólo de entre sus hermanos: y desde aquel día en adelante el espíritu de Jehová tomó á David. Levantóse luego Samuel, y volvióse á Rama.

14Y el espíritu de Jehová se apartó de Saúl, y atormentábale el espíritu malo de parte de Jehová.

15Y los criados de Saúl le dijeron: He aquí ahora, que el espíritu malo de parte de Dios te atormenta.

16Diga pues nuestro señor á tus siervos que están delante de ti, que busquen alguno que sepa tocar el arpa; para que cuando fuere sobre ti el espíritu malo de parte de Dios, él taña con su mano, y tengas alivio.

17Y Saúl respondió á sus criados: Buscadme pues ahora alguno que taña bien, y traédmelo.

18Entonces uno de los criados respondió, diciendo: He aquí yo he visto á un hijo de Isaí de Beth-lehem, que sabe tocar, y es valiente y vigoroso, y hombre de guerra, prudente en sus palabras, y hermoso, y Jehová es con él.

19Y Saúl envió mensajeros á Isaí, diciendo: Envíame á David tu hijo, el que está con las ovejas.

20Y tomó Isaí un asno cargado de pan, y una vasija de vino y un cabrito, y enviólo á Saúl por mano de David su hijo.

21Y viniendo David á Saúl, estuvo delante de él: y amólo él mucho, y fué hecho su escudero.

22Y Saúl envió á decir á Isaí: Yo te ruego que esté David conmigo; porque ha hallado gracia en mis ojos.

23Y cuando el espíritu malo de parte de Dios era sobre Saúl, David tomaba el arpa, y tañía con su mano; y Saúl tenía refrigerio, y estaba mejor, y el espíritu malo se apartaba de él.

King James Version

1And 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 Beth-lehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons.

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.

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.

4And Samuel did that which the LORD spake, and came to Beth-lehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, Comest thou peaceably?

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

18Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Beth-lehemite, 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.

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

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

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

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.

World English Bible

1The LORD said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for 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 a king for myself among his sons.”

2Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me.” The LORD said, “Take a heifer with you, and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.’

3Call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do. You shall anoint to me him whom I name to you.”

4Samuel did that which the LORD spoke, and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling, and said, “Do you come peaceably?”

5He said, “Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice.” He sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice.

6When they had come, he looked at Eliab, and said, “Surely the LORD’s anointed is before him.”

7But the LORD said to Samuel, “Don’t look on his face, or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for I don’t see as man sees. For man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

8Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. He said, “The LORD has not chosen this one, either.”

9Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. He said, “The LORD has not chosen this one, either.”

10Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. Samuel said to Jesse, “The LORD has not chosen these.”

11Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your children here?” He said, “There remains yet the youngest. Behold, he is keeping the sheep.” Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and get him, for we will not sit down until he comes here.”

12He sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with a handsome face and good appearance. The LORD said, “Arise! Anoint him, for this is he.”

13Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the middle of his brothers. Then the LORD’s Spirit came mightily on David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up and went to Ramah.

14Now the LORD’s Spirit departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.

15Saul’s servants said to him, “See now, an evil spirit from God troubles you.

16Let our lord now command your servants who are in front of you to seek out a man who is a skillful player on the harp. Then when the evil spirit from God is on you, he will play with his hand, and you will be well.”

17Saul said to his servants, “Provide me now a man who can play well, and bring him to me.”

18Then one of the young men answered and said, “Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite who is skillful in playing, a mighty man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a handsome person; and the LORD is with him.”

19Therefore Saul sent messengers to Jesse, and said, “Send me David your son, who is with the sheep.”

20Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a container of wine, and a young goat, and sent them by David his son to Saul.

21David came to Saul and stood before him. He loved him greatly; and he became his armor bearer.

22Saul sent to Jesse, saying, “Please let David stand before me, for he has found favor in my sight.”

23When the spirit from God was on Saul, David took the harp and played with his hand; so Saul was refreshed and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.