1 Samuel 16

¹ The LORD said to Samuel, "How long will you mourn for Saul, when I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem, for I have chosen a king for myself from among his sons."

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

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

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

⁵ "In peace," he said. "I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Set yourselves apart and come with me to the sacrifice." Then he set Jesse and his sons apart and invited them to the sacrifice.

⁶ When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, "Surely the LORD's anointed stands here before him."

⁷ But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or his great height, because I have rejected him. The LORD does not see as a man sees; a man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

⁸ Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass before Samuel. But Samuel said, "The LORD has not chosen this one either."

⁹ Then Jesse had Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, "The LORD has not chosen this one either."

¹⁰ So Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to Jesse, "The LORD has not chosen any of these."

¹¹ Then Samuel asked Jesse, "Are these all the boys?" "There is still the youngest," he answered, "but he is out tending the sheep." Samuel said to Jesse, "Send for him, for we will not sit down until he comes here."

¹² So he sent and brought him in. He was ruddy, with beautiful eyes and a fine appearance. The LORD said, "Get up and anoint him, for this is the one."

¹³ So 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 on. Then Samuel got up and went to Ramah.

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

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

¹⁶ Let our lord command your servants here before you to look for a man skilled at playing the lyre. Then, when the evil spirit from God comes over you, he will play, and you will feel better."

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

¹⁸ One of the young men answered, "I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play. He is a brave warrior, a fighting man, skilled in speech, and handsome, and the LORD is with him."

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

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

²¹ David came to Saul and entered his service, and Saul loved him greatly and made him his armor-bearer.

²² And Saul sent word to Jesse, saying, "Let David stay in my service, for he has found favor in my eyes."

²³ And whenever the spirit from God came over Saul, David would take the lyre and play, and Saul would be relieved and feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him.