1 Samuel, Chapter 16

1. And the LORD said to Samuel, How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill your horn with oil, and go, I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.    2. And Samuel said, How can I go? if Saul hears it, he will kill me. And the LORD said, Take a heifer with you, and say, I am come to sacrifice to the LORD.    3. And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do: and you shall anoint for me him whom I name unto you.    4. And Samuel did that which the LORD spoke, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, Do you come peaceably?    5. And he said, Peaceably: I am come to sacrifice unto the LORD: sanctify 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 had come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD'S anointed is before him.    7. But the LORD said to Samuel, Look not on his appearance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.    8. Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, Neither has the LORD chosen this one.    9. Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither has the LORD chosen this one.    10. Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, The LORD has not chosen these.    11. And Samuel said to Jesse, Are all your children here? And he said, There remains yet the youngest, and, behold, he keeps the sheep. And Samuel said to Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he comes here.    12. And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and also of a beautiful appearance, and pleasant to look upon. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he.    13. Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brothers: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.    14. But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.    15. And Saul's servants said to him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubles you.    16. Let our lord now command your servants, which are before you, to look for a man, who is a skilful player on a harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon you, that he shall play with his hand, and you shall be well.    17. And Saul said to his servants, Provide me now with 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 Bethlehemite, that is skilful in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in affairs, and a good looking person, and the LORD is with him.    19. Therefore Saul sent messengers to Jesse, and said, Send me David your son, who is with the sheep.    20. And Jesse took a donkey that carried bread, and a bottle of wine, and a kid, and sent them by David his son to Saul.    21. And David came to Saul, and stood before him: and he loved him greatly; and he became his armor bearer.    22. And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David, I pray you, stand before me; for he has found favor in my sight.    23. And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took a harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.