1 Samuel 16

1 Samuel Chapter 16 KJV

1Samuel by God's direction goeth to Beth-lehem under pretence of a sacrifice. 6Jesse's seven sons pass before him, but are not approved by God. 11David is sent for, approved, and anointed. 14An evil spirit troubleth Saul, who by the advice of his servants sendeth for David, and is relieved by his music.
1 And the Lord said unto Samuel, 1How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing 2I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine 3horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to 4Jesse the Beth-lehemite: for 5I have provided me a king among his sons.
2 And Samuel said, 1How can I go? if Saul hear it, he will kill me. And the Lord said, Take an heifer awith thee, and say, 2I am come to sacrifice to the Lord.
3 And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and 1I will shew thee what 2thou shalt do: and thou shalt anoint unto me him whom I name unto thee.
4 And Samuel did that which the Lord spake, and came to Beth-lehem. And the elders of the town 1trembled at his acoming, and said, 2Comest thou peaceably?
5 And he said, Peaceably: I am come to sacrifice unto the Lord: 1sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice.
6 ¶ And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on aEliab, and said, Surely the Lord's anointed is before him.
7 But the Lord 1said unto Samuel, Look not on his 2countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth 3not as man seeth; for man looketh on the aoutward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.
8 Then Jesse called 1Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, Neither hath the Lord chosen this.
9 Then Jesse made aShammah to pass by. And he said, Neither hath the Lord chosen this.
10 Again, Jesse made 1seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The Lord hath not chosen these.
11 And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, 1he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit adown till he come hither.
12 And he sent, and brought him in. Now 1he was ruddy, and withal aof a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And 2the Lord said, 3Arise, anoint him: for this is he.
13 Then Samuel took 1the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and 2the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to 3Ramah.
14 ¶ But the 1Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an 2evil spirit from the Lord atroubled him.
15 And Saul's servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee.
16 Let our lord now command thy servants, which are before thee, to seek out a man, who is a cunning player on an harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that 1he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well.
17 And Saul said unto his servants, Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me.
18 Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Beth-lehemite, that is cunning in playing, 1and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in amatters, and a comely person, and 2the Lord is with him.
19 ¶ Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said, Send me David thy son, which is 1with the sheep.
20 And Jesse 1took an ass laden with bread, and a bottle of wine, and a 2kid, and sent them by David his son unto Saul.
21 And David came to Saul, and 1stood before him: and he 2loved him greatly; and he became his armourbearer.
22 And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David, I pray thee, stand before me; for he hath found favour in my sight.
23 And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul 1was refreshed, and was well, and 2the evil spirit departed from him.
1 Samuel 16