1 Samuel 16
1 The LORD said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go. I am sending you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, because I have chosen a king for myself from among his sons.”
2 Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears about 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 you must do. You are to anoint for me the one I point out to you.”
4 Samuel did what the LORD said and went to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came trembling to meet him and asked, “Do you come in peace?”
5 He replied, “In peace. I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Consecrate yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” He consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.
6 When they arrived, he saw Eliab and said, “Surely the LORD’s anointed stands here before him.”
7 But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or his height, because I have rejected him. For a person does not see as the LORD sees: people look at outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
8 Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass before Samuel, and Samuel said, “The LORD has not chosen this one either.”
9 Jesse had Shammah pass by, and Samuel said, “The LORD has not chosen this one either.”
10 Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, and Samuel said to Jesse, “The LORD has not chosen these.”
11 Samuel asked Jesse, “Are all the young men here?” He replied, “The youngest is still left; he is tending the sheep.” Samuel said to Jesse, “Send for him, because we will not sit down until he gets here.”
12 So he sent for him. He was ruddy, with beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance. Then the LORD said, “Get up and anoint him, because this is the one.”
13 Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon David from that day on. Then Samuel got up and went to Ramah.
14 The Spirit of the LORD left 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 give the word, and we, your servants standing before you, will find someone who knows how to play the lyre. When the evil spirit from God comes upon you, he will play with his hand, and you will feel better.”
17 Saul said to his servants, “Find me someone who plays well and bring him to me.”
18 One of the young men answered, “I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite who knows how to play. He is a brave warrior, a man of war, wise in speech, handsome, and the LORD is with him.”
19 Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.”
20 Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a wineskin, and a young goat, and sent them to Saul by the hand of his son David.
21 David came to Saul and stood before him. Saul loved him greatly, and David became his armor-bearer.
22 Saul sent word to Jesse, “Please let David remain in my service, because he has found favor in my sight.”
23 Whenever the spirit from God came upon Saul, David would take the lyre and play it with his hand. Saul would feel relieved and better, and the evil spirit would leave him.
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