1.Samuel 16 | King James Version

1 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. 2 And 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. 3 And 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. 4 And 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? 5 And 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. 6 And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD' anointed is before him. 7 But 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. 8 Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this. 9 Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this. 10 Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The LORD hath not chosen these. 11 And 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. 12 And 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. 13 Then 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. 14 But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him. 15 And Saul' servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee. 16 Let 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. 17 And Saul said unto his servants, Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me. 18 Then 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. 19 Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said, Send me David thy son, which is with the sheep. 20 And Jesse took an ass laden with bread, and a bottle of wine, and a kid, and sent them by David his son unto Saul. 21 And David came to Saul, and stood before him: and he loved him greatly; and he became his armourbearer. 22 And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David, I pray thee, stand before me; for he hath found favour in my sight. 23 And 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.

New International Reader’s Version

Samuel anoints David to be Israel’s king

1 The LORD said to Samuel, ‘How long will you be filled with sorrow because of Saul? I have refused to have him as king over Israel. Fill your animal horn with olive oil and go on your way. I am sending you to Jesse in Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.’ 2 But Samuel said, ‘How can I go? Suppose Saul hears about it. Then he’ll kill me.’ The LORD said, ‘Take a young cow with you. Tell the elders of Bethlehem, “I’ve come to offer a sacrifice to the LORD.” 3 Invite Jesse to the sacrifice. Then I will show you what to do. You must anoint for me the one I point out to you.’ 4 Samuel did what the LORD said. He arrived at Bethlehem. The elders of the town met him. They were trembling with fear. They asked, ‘Have you come in peace?’ 5 Samuel replied, ‘Yes, I’ve come in peace. I’ve come to offer a sacrifice to the LORD. Set yourselves apart to him and come to the sacrifice with me.’ Then he set Jesse and his sons apart to the LORD. He invited them to the sacrifice. 6 When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab. He thought, ‘This has to be the one the LORD wants me to anoint for him.’ 7 But the LORD said to Samuel, ‘Do not consider how handsome or tall he is. I have not chosen him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outside of a person. But the LORD looks at what is in the heart.’ 8 Then Jesse called for Abinadab. He made him walk in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, ‘The LORD hasn’t chosen him either.’ 9 Then Jesse made Shammah walk by. But Samuel said, ‘The LORD hasn’t chosen him either.’ 10 Jesse made seven of his sons walk in front of Samuel. But Samuel said to him, ‘The LORD hasn’t chosen any of them.’ 11 So he asked Jesse, ‘Are these the only sons you have?’ ‘No’, Jesse answered. ‘My youngest son is taking care of the sheep.’ Samuel said, ‘Send for him. We won’t sit down to eat until he arrives.’ 12 So Jesse sent for his son and had him brought in. He looked very healthy. He had a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the LORD said, ‘Get up and anoint him. This is the one.’ 13 So Samuel got the animal horn that was filled with olive oil. He anointed David in front of his brothers. From that day on, the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully on David. Samuel went back to Ramah.

David serves Saul

14 The Spirit of the LORD had left Saul. And an evil spirit sent by the LORD terrified him. 15 Saul’s attendants said to him, ‘An evil spirit sent by God is terrifying you. 16 Give us an order to look for someone who can play the harp. He will play it when the evil spirit sent by God comes on you. Then you will feel better.’ 17 So Saul said to his attendants, ‘Find someone who plays the harp well. Bring him to me.’ 18 One of the servants said, ‘I’ve seen someone who knows how to play the harp. He is a son of Jesse from Bethlehem. He’s a brave man. He would make a good soldier. He’s a good speaker. He’s very handsome. And the LORD is with him.’ 19 Then Saul sent messengers to Jesse. He said, ‘Send me your son David, the one who takes care of your sheep.’ 20 So Jesse got some bread and a bottle of wine. The bottle was made out of animal skin. He also got a young goat. He loaded everything on the back of a donkey. He sent all of it to Saul with his son David. 21 David went to Saul and began to serve him. Saul liked him very much. David became one of the men who carried Saul’s armour. 22 Saul sent a message to Jesse. Saul said, ‘Let David stay here. I want him to serve me. I’m pleased with him.’ 23 When the evil spirit sent by God would come on Saul, David would get his harp and play it. That would help Saul. He would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him.

1.Samuel 16 | King James Version New International Reader’s Version

Samuel anoints David to be Israel’s king

David serves Saul