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1 Samuel 16
New English Translation

Samuel Anoints David as King

16 The Lord said to Samuel, “How long do you intend to mourn for Saul? I have rejected him as king over Israel.[a] Fill your horn with olive oil and go. I am sending you to Jesse in Bethlehem, for I have selected a king for myself from among his sons.”[b]

2 Samuel replied, “How can I go? Saul will hear about it and kill me!” But the Lord said, “Take a heifer with you[c] and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ 3 Then invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you should do. You will anoint for me the one I point out[d] to you.”

4 Samuel did what the Lord told him.[e] When he arrived in Bethlehem, the elders of the city were afraid to meet him. They[f] said, “Do you come in peace?” 5 He replied, “Yes, in peace. I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” So he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

6 When they arrived, Samuel[g] noticed[h] Eliab and said to himself,[i] “Surely, here before the Lord stands his chosen king.”[j] 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t be impressed by[k] his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. God does not view things the way people do.[l] People look on the outward appearance,[m] but the Lord looks at the heart.”

8 Then Jesse called Abinadab and presented him to Samuel.[n] But Samuel[o] said, “The Lord has not chosen this one either.” 9 Then Jesse presented[p] Shammah. But Samuel said, “The Lord has not chosen this one either.” 10 Jesse presented seven of his sons to Samuel.[q] But Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen any of these.” 11 Then Samuel asked Jesse, “Is that all the young men?” Jesse[r] replied, “There is still the youngest one, but he’s taking care of the flock.” Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and get him, for we cannot turn our attention to other things until he comes here.”

12 So Jesse had him brought in.[s] Now he was ruddy, with attractive eyes and a handsome appearance. The Lord said, “Go and anoint him. This is the one.” 13 So Samuel took the horn full of olive oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers. The Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day onward. Then Samuel got up and went to Ramah.

David Appears before Saul

14 Now the Spirit of the Lord had turned away from Saul, and an evil spirit[t] from the Lord tormented him. 15 Then Saul’s servants said to him, “Look, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you. 16 Let our lord instruct his servants who are here before you to look for a man who knows how to play the lyre. Then whenever the evil spirit from God comes upon you, he can play the lyre[u] and you will feel better.”[v] 17 So Saul said to his servants, “Find[w] me a man who plays well and bring him to me.” 18 One of his attendants replied,[x] “I have seen a son of Jesse in Bethlehem who knows how to play the lyre. He is a brave warrior[y] and is articulate[z] and handsome,[aa] for the Lord is with him.”

19 So Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me your son David, who is out with the sheep.” 20 So Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a container of wine, and a young goat[ab] and sent them to Saul with[ac] his son David. 21 David came to Saul and stood before him. Saul liked him a great deal,[ad] and he became his armor-bearer. 22 Then Saul sent word to Jesse saying, “Let David be my servant, for I am very pleased with him.”[ae]

23 So whenever the spirit from God would come upon Saul, David would take his lyre and play it. This would bring relief to Saul and make him feel better. Then the evil spirit would leave him alone.[af]

Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 16:1 tc The Lucianic recension of the Old Greek translation includes the following words: “And the Lord said to Samuel.”
  2. 1 Samuel 16:1 tn Heb “for I have seen among his sons for me a king.”
  3. 1 Samuel 16:2 tn Heb “in your hand.”
  4. 1 Samuel 16:3 tn Heb “say”; KJV, NRSV “name”; NIV “indicate.”
  5. 1 Samuel 16:4 tn Heb “said.”
  6. 1 Samuel 16:4 tc In the MT the verb is singular (“he said”), but the translation follows many medieval Hebrew mss and ancient versions in reading the plural (“they said”).
  7. 1 Samuel 16:6 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Samuel) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  8. 1 Samuel 16:6 tn Heb “saw.”
  9. 1 Samuel 16:6 tn Heb “said”; the words “to himself” are implied, given the secrecy surrounding Samuel’s mission to Bethlehem (v. 2).
  10. 1 Samuel 16:6 tn Heb “his anointed one.”
  11. 1 Samuel 16:7 tn Heb “don’t look toward.”
  12. 1 Samuel 16:7 tn Heb “for not that which the man sees.” The translation follows the LXX, which reads, “for not as man sees does God see.” The MT has suffered from homoioteleuton or homoioarcton. See P. K. McCarter, I Samuel (AB), 274.
  13. 1 Samuel 16:7 tn Heb “to the eyes.”
  14. 1 Samuel 16:8 tn Heb “and caused him to pass before.”
  15. 1 Samuel 16:8 tn Heb “he” (also in v. 9); the referent (Samuel) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  16. 1 Samuel 16:9 tn Heb “caused to pass by.”
  17. 1 Samuel 16:10 tn Heb “caused seven of his sons to pass before Samuel.” This could be taken as referring to seven sons in addition to the three mentioned before this, but 1 Sam 17:12 says Jesse had eight sons, not eleven. 1 Chr 2:13-15 lists only seven sons, including David. However, 1 Chr 27:18 mentions an additional son, named Elihu.
  18. 1 Samuel 16:11 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Jesse) has been specified in the translation both here and in v. 12 for clarity.
  19. 1 Samuel 16:12 tn Heb “and he sent and brought him.”
  20. 1 Samuel 16:14 tn Or “an injurious spirit”; cf. NLT “a tormenting spirit.” The phrase need not refer to an evil, demonic spirit. The Hebrew word translated “evil” may refer to the character of the spirit or to its effect upon Saul. If the latter, another translation option might be “a mischief-making spirit.”
  21. 1 Samuel 16:16 tn Heb “and he will play with his hand.”
  22. 1 Samuel 16:16 tn Heb “and it will be better for you.”
  23. 1 Samuel 16:17 tn Heb “see.”
  24. 1 Samuel 16:18 tn Heb “answered and said.”
  25. 1 Samuel 16:18 tn Heb “mighty man of valor and a man of war.”
  26. 1 Samuel 16:18 tn Heb “discerning of word.”
  27. 1 Samuel 16:18 tn Heb “a man of form.”
  28. 1 Samuel 16:20 tn Heb “a kid of the goats.”
  29. 1 Samuel 16:20 tn Heb “by the hand of.”
  30. 1 Samuel 16:21 tn Heb “he loved him.”
  31. 1 Samuel 16:22 tn Heb “Let David stand before me, for he has found favor in my eyes.”
  32. 1 Samuel 16:23 tn Heb “would turn aside from upon him.”
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撒母耳记上 16
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Simplified)

撒母耳膏立大卫做王

16 耶和华对撒母耳说：“我已经拒绝让扫罗做以色列王了，你还要为他哀伤多久呢？把你的角盛满膏油，我要差遣你到伯利恒的耶西那里，我已选了他的一个儿子做王。” 2 撒母耳说：“我怎么可以去呢？扫罗知道了，一定会杀掉我。”耶和华说：“你带一头牛犊去，就说，‘我是来向耶和华献祭的。’ 3 你要请耶西参加献祭，我会告诉你怎么做，我会指示你膏立谁。” 4 撒母耳遵行耶和华的吩咐，他来到伯利恒，那城的长老都战战兢兢地出来迎接他，问道：“你是为平安而来吗？” 5 撒母耳答道：“是的，为平安而来，我是来向耶和华献祭的。你们要洁净自己，然后来和我一起献祭。”撒母耳为耶西及其众子行过洁净礼后，便邀请他们参加献祭。

6 耶西及其众子来了，撒母耳看见以利押，心里想：“这位肯定是耶和华要膏立的人。” 7 但耶和华对撒母耳说：“不要看他相貌堂堂、身材高大，我要选的不是他。耶和华不像世人那样看人，人看外表，耶和华看内心。” 8 耶西吩咐他的儿子亚比拿达从撒母耳面前走过，但撒母耳说：“这也不是耶和华拣选的人。” 9 耶西又叫沙玛从撒母耳面前走过，但撒母耳说：“这也不是耶和华拣选的人。”耶西叫七个儿子一个一个从撒母耳面前走过，但撒母耳说他们都不是耶和华拣选的人。 10 撒母耳问耶西：“你的儿子全都到齐了吗？” 11 耶西答道：“还有一个最小的，他正在田间放羊。”撒母耳对耶西说：“派人叫他回来，他不来，我们就不入座。” 12 耶西就派人去叫他回来。他面色红润，眉清目秀，相貌英俊。耶和华说：“就是他，起来膏立他吧。” 13 撒母耳就拿出盛膏油的角，当着他哥哥们的面膏立他。从那天起，耶和华的灵降在大卫身上。事后，撒母耳回拉玛去了。

大卫服侍扫罗

14 耶和华的灵离开了扫罗，有个邪灵从耶和华那里来折磨他。 15 扫罗的臣仆对他说：“现在有个邪灵从上帝那里来折磨你， 16 你[a]可以吩咐跟前的臣仆去找一个善于弹琴的人来。邪灵从上帝那里来到你身上的时候，他为你弹琴，你就会好。” 17 扫罗说：“你们就为我找一个善于弹琴的人，带他到我这里来。” 18 其中有一个仆人说：“我见过伯利恒耶西的一个儿子，他善于弹琴，英勇善战，谈吐合宜，相貌英俊，并且耶和华与他同在。” 19 扫罗便差遣使者去见耶西，说：“请让你放羊的儿子大卫到我这里来。” 20 耶西就把一些饼、一皮袋酒和一只山羊羔驮在驴背上，让儿子大卫带去送给扫罗。 21 大卫到了扫罗那里，做了他身边的侍臣。扫罗非常喜欢大卫，让大卫为他拿兵器。 22 扫罗派人去见耶西，说：“你就让大卫留在我的身边吧，因为我喜欢他。” 23 每当有邪灵从上帝那里来到扫罗身上的时候，大卫就为他弹琴，扫罗便觉得舒畅，邪灵也离开了他。

Footnotes

  1. 16:16 “你”希伯来文是“我们的主”。
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1 Samuel 16
New International Version

Samuel Anoints David

16 The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn(A) for Saul, since I have rejected(B) him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil(C) and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse(D) of Bethlehem. I have chosen(E) one of his sons to be king.”

2 But 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(F) you what to do. You are to anoint(G) for me the one I indicate.”

4 Samuel did what the Lord said. When he arrived at Bethlehem,(H) the elders of the town trembled(I) when they met him. They asked, “Do you come in peace?(J)”

5 Samuel replied, “Yes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate(K) yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

6 When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab(L) and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.”

7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance,(M) but the Lord looks at the heart.”(N)

8 Then Jesse called Abinadab(O) and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “The Lord has not chosen this one either.” 9 Jesse then had Shammah(P) pass by, but Samuel said, “Nor has the Lord chosen this one.” 10 Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, “The Lord has not chosen these.” 11 So he asked Jesse, “Are these all(Q) the sons you have?”

“There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep.”(R)

Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.”

12 So he(S) sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome(T) features.

Then the Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.”

13 So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed(U) him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord(V) came powerfully upon David.(W) Samuel then went to Ramah.

David in Saul’s Service

14 Now the Spirit of the Lord had departed(X) from Saul, and an evil[a] spirit(Y) from the Lord tormented him.(Z)

15 Saul’s attendants said to him, “See, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you. 16 Let our lord command his servants here to search for someone who can play the lyre.(AA) He will play when the evil spirit from God comes on you, and you will feel better.”

17 So Saul said to his attendants, “Find someone who plays well and bring him to me.”

18 One of the servants answered, “I have seen a son of Jesse(AB) of Bethlehem who knows how to play the lyre. He is a brave man and a warrior.(AC) He speaks well and is a fine-looking man. And the Lord is with(AD) him.”

19 Then Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.(AE)” 20 So Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread,(AF) 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.(AG) Saul liked him very much, and David became one of his armor-bearers. 22 Then Saul sent word to Jesse, saying, “Allow David to remain in my service, for I am pleased with him.”

23 Whenever the spirit from God came on Saul, David would take up his lyre and play. Then relief would come to Saul; he would feel better, and the evil spirit(AH) would leave him.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 16:14 Or and a harmful; similarly in verses 15, 16 and 23
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