1 Samuel 16

1 Samuel 16:1 Yahveh 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 because I have selected a king from his sons.”

1 Samuel 16:2 Samuel asked, “How can I go? Saul will hear about it and kill me!” Yahveh answered, “Take a young cow with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to Yahveh.’

1 Samuel 16:3 Then invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will let you know what you are to do. You are to anoint for me the one I indicate to you.”

1 Samuel 16:4 Samuel did what Yahveh directed and went to Bethlehem. When the elders of the town met him, they trembled and asked, “Do you come in peace?”

1 Samuel 16:5 “In peace,” he replied. “I’ve come to sacrifice to Yahveh. Consecrate yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

1 Samuel 16:6 When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and said, “Certainly Yahveh’s anointed one is here before him.”

1 Samuel 16:7 But Yahveh said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or his stature because I have rejected him. Humans do not see what Yahveh sees, for humans see what is visible, but Yahveh sees the heart.”

1 Samuel 16:8 Jesse called Abinadab and presented him to Samuel. “Yahveh hasn’t chosen this one either,” Samuel said.

1 Samuel 16:9 Then Jesse presented Shammah, but Samuel said, “Yahveh hasn’t chosen this one either.”

1 Samuel 16:10 After Jesse presented seven of his sons to him, Samuel told Jesse, “Yahveh hasn’t chosen any of these.”

1 Samuel 16:11 Samuel asked him, “Are these all the boys you have?” “There is still the youngest,” he answered, “but notice right now he’s tending the sheep.” Samuel told Jesse, “Send for him. We won’t sit down to eat until he gets here.”

1 Samuel 16:12 So Jesse sent for him. He had beautiful eyes and a healthy, handsome appearance. Then Yahveh said, “Anoint him, for he is the one.”

1 Samuel 16:13 So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and the Breath of Yahveh came powerfully on David from that day forward. Then Samuel set out and went to Ramah.

1 Samuel 16:14 Now the Breath of Yahveh had left Saul, and an evil breath sent from Yahveh began to torment him,

1 Samuel 16:15 so Saul’s slaves said to him, “Notice that an evil breath from God is tormenting you.

1 Samuel 16:16 Let our lord command your servants here in your presence to look for someone who knows how to play the lyre. Whenever the evil breath from God comes on you, that person can play the lyre, and you will feel better.”

1 Samuel 16:17 Then Saul commanded his servants, “Find me someone who plays well and bring him to me.”

1 Samuel 16:18 One of the boys answered, “Notice, I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the lyre. He is also a valiant man, a warrior, eloquent, handsome, and Yahveh is with him.”

1 Samuel 16:19 Then Saul dispatched messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.”

1 Samuel 16:20 So Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a wineskin, and one young goat and sent them by his son David to Saul.

1 Samuel 16:21 When David came to Saul and entered his service, Saul loved him very much, and David became his armor-bearer.

1 Samuel 16:22 Then Saul sent word to Jesse: “Let David remain in my service, for he has found favor with me.”

1 Samuel 16:23 Whenever the breath from God came on Saul, David would pick up his lyre and play, and Saul would then be relieved, feel better, and the evil breath would leave him.