23 And (A)whenever the harmful spirit from God was upon Saul, David took the lyre (B)and played it with his hand. So Saul was refreshed and was well, and the harmful spirit departed from him.

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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(A) would leave him.

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10 The next day (A)a harmful spirit from God rushed upon Saul, and (B)he raved within his house while David was (C)playing the lyre, as he did day by day. (D)Saul had his spear in his hand. 11 And Saul (E)hurled the spear, for he thought, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David evaded him twice.

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10 The next day an evil[a] spirit(A) from God came forcefully on Saul. He was prophesying in his house, while David was playing the lyre,(B) as he usually(C) did. Saul had a spear(D) in his hand 11 and he hurled it, saying to himself,(E) “I’ll pin David to the wall.” But David eluded(F) him twice.(G)

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 18:10 Or a harmful

David in Saul's Service

14 (A)Now the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, (B)and a harmful spirit from the Lord tormented him. 15 And Saul's servants said to him, “Behold now, a harmful spirit from God is tormenting you. 16 Let our lord now command your servants (C)who are before you to seek out a man who is skillful in playing the lyre, and when the harmful spirit from God is upon you, he will (D)play it, and you will be well.”

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David in Saul’s Service

14 Now the Spirit of the Lord had departed(A) from Saul, and an evil[a] spirit(B) from the Lord tormented him.(C)

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.(D) He will play when the evil spirit from God comes on you, and you will feel better.”

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Footnotes

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

Return of an Unclean Spirit

24 (A)“When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through (B)waterless places seeking rest, and finding none it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ 25 And when it comes, it finds the house swept and put in order. 26 Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there. And (C)the last state of that person is worse than the first.”

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24 “When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ 25 When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. 26 Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first.”(A)

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Return of an Unclean Spirit

43 “When (A)the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through (B)waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. 44 Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order. 45 Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and (C)the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this (D)evil generation.”

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43 “When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. 44 Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. 45 Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first.(A) That is how it will be with this wicked generation.”

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