1 Samuel 16

1Yahweh said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over 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 chosen one of his sons to be king for me.”

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

3Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what to do. You are to anoint for me the one I point out to you.”

4Samuel did what Yahweh said and went to Bethlehem. The elders of the town came trembling to meet him and asked, “Do you come in peace?”

5He answered, “In peace. I have come to sacrifice to Yahweh. 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, he looked at Eliab and said, “Surely Yahweh’s anointed stands here before him.”

7But Yahweh said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at how tall he is, for I have rejected him. Yahweh does not see the way a human being sees. People see what meets the eye, but Yahweh sees into the heart.”

8Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass before Samuel. But Samuel said, “Yahweh has not chosen this one either.”

9Then Jesse had Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, “Yahweh has not chosen this one either.”

10Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to Jesse, “Yahweh has not chosen these.”

11Then Samuel asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?” He answered, “There is still the youngest, but he is out tending the sheep.” Samuel said to Jesse, “Send for him and bring him here. We will not sit down to eat until he comes.”

12So Jesse sent for him and brought him in. He was ruddy, with beautiful eyes and a fine appearance. Then Yahweh said, “Get up and anoint him, for this is the one.”

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

14Now the Spirit of Yahweh had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from Yahweh tormented him.

15Saul’s servants said to him, “You see, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you.

16Let our lord command your servants here in your presence to look for someone who knows how to play the lyre. Then whenever the evil spirit from God comes on you, he will play it, and you will feel better.”

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

18One of the young men answered, “I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play. He is a brave man and a warrior. He speaks well and is a fine-looking man, and Yahweh is with him.”

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

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

21David came to Saul and entered his service. Saul loved him very much, and David became one of his armor-bearers.

22Then Saul sent word to Jesse: “Please let David stay in my service, for I am pleased with him.”

23Whenever the spirit from God came on Saul, David would take the lyre and play it. Then Saul would be relieved and feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him.