1 Samuel 16

1Yahweh said to Samuel, "How long will you mourn over Saul, since I have rejected him from kingship over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go—I am sending you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided myself a king among his sons."

2Samuel said, "How shall I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me." Yahweh said, "Take a heifer with you, and say, 'I have come to sacrifice to Yahweh.'"

3Summon Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will let you know what you are to do; anoint for me the one I tell you.

4Samuel did as Yahweh had spoken and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came trembling to meet him and said, "Do you come in peace?"

5He said, "Peace; I have come to sacrifice to Yahweh. Consecrate yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice." He consecrated Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice.

6When they came, he saw Eliab and said, "Surely Yahweh's anointed stands before him."

7Yahweh said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or his tall stature, for I have rejected him; for I do not see as man sees—for man looks with the eyes, but Yahweh looks with the heart."

8Jesse called Abinadab and brought him before Samuel, but he said, "Yahweh has not chosen this one either."

9Jesse brought Shammah forward, and he said, "Yahweh has not chosen this one either."

10Jesse brought his seven sons before Samuel, and Samuel said to Jesse, "Yahweh has not chosen these."

11Samuel said to Jesse, "Have all the young men arrived?" He said, "The youngest is still left, and look, he is tending the sheep." Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and bring him, for we will not sit until he comes here."

12He sent and brought him in; he was ruddy, with beautiful eyes and handsome to behold. Yahweh said, "Arise, anoint him, for this is he."

13Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him among his brothers, and the Spirit of Yahweh rushed upon David from that day forward. Samuel arose and went to Ramah.

14The Spirit of Yahweh departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from Yahweh terrified him.

15Saul's servants said to him, "Look now, an evil spirit from God terrifies you."

16Let our lord now command your servants before you to seek a man skilled in playing the harp. When the evil spirit from God comes upon you, he will play with his hand, and you will be well.

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

18One of the young men answered, "Look, I've seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite who knows how to play, brave and strong, a warrior, discerning in words, a handsome man, and Yahweh is with him."

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

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

21David came to Saul and stood before him. Saul loved him greatly, and David became his armorbearer.

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

23Whenever God's spirit came upon Saul, David took the harp and played it with his hand, Saul found relief and was cheered, and the evil spirit departed from him.