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1 Samuel 16
New International Version
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 Samuel 16:14 Or and a harmful; similarly in verses 15, 16 and 23
1 Samuel 16
New King James Version
1 Samuel 16
New King James Version
David Anointed King
16 Now the Lord said to Samuel, (A)“How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? (B)Fill your horn with oil, and go; I am sending you to (C)Jesse the Bethlehemite. For (D)I have [a]provided Myself a king among his sons.”
2 And Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me.”
But the Lord said, “Take a heifer with you, and say, (E)‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ 3 Then invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; you shall anoint for Me the one I name to you.”
4 So Samuel did what the Lord said, and went to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town (F)trembled at his coming, and said, (G)“Do you come peaceably?”
5 And he said, “Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. (H)Sanctify[b] yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons, and invited them to the sacrifice.
6 So it was, when they came, that he looked at (I)Eliab and (J)said, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before Him!”
7 But the Lord said to Samuel, (K)“Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have [c]refused him. (L)For[d] the Lord does not see as man sees; for man (M)looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the (N)heart.”
8 So Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” 9 Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” 10 Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen these.” 11 And Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all the young men here?” Then he said, “There remains yet the youngest, and there he is, keeping the (O)sheep.”
And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him. For we will not [e]sit down till he comes here.” 12 So he sent and brought him in. Now he was (P)ruddy, (Q)with [f]bright eyes, and good-looking. (R)And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!” 13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and (S)the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah.
A Distressing Spirit Troubles Saul
14 (T)But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and (U)a distressing spirit from the Lord troubled him. 15 And Saul’s servants said to him, “Surely, a distressing spirit from God is troubling you. 16 Let our master now command your servants, who are before you, to seek out a man who is a skillful player on the harp. And it shall be that he will (V)play it with his hand when the [g]distressing spirit from God is upon you, and you shall be well.”
17 So Saul said to his servants, [h]“Provide me now a man who can play well, and bring him to me.”
18 Then one of the servants answered and said, “Look, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a mighty man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a handsome person; and (W)the Lord is with him.”
19 Therefore Saul sent messengers to Jesse, and said, “Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.” 20 And Jesse (X)took a donkey loaded with bread, a skin of wine, and a young goat, and sent them by his son David to Saul. 21 So David came to Saul and (Y)stood before him. And he loved him greatly, and he became his armorbearer. 22 Then Saul sent to Jesse, saying, “Please let David stand before me, for he has found favor in my sight.” 23 And so it was, whenever the spirit from God was upon Saul, that David would take a harp and play it with his hand. Then Saul would become refreshed and well, and the distressing spirit would depart from him.
Footnotes
- 1 Samuel 16:1 Lit. seen
- 1 Samuel 16:5 Consecrate
- 1 Samuel 16:7 rejected
- 1 Samuel 16:7 LXX For God does not see as man sees; Tg. It is not by the appearance of a man; Vg. Nor do I judge according to the looks of a man
- 1 Samuel 16:11 So with LXX, Vg.; MT turn around; Tg., Syr. turn away
- 1 Samuel 16:12 Lit. beautiful
- 1 Samuel 16:16 Lit. evil
- 1 Samuel 16:17 Lit. Look now for a man for me
1 Samuel 16
Luther Bibel 1545
1 Samuel 16
Luther Bibel 1545
16 Und der HERR sprach zu Samuel: Wie lange trägst du Leid um Saul, den ich verworfen habe, daß er nicht König sei über Israel? Fülle dein Horn mit Öl und gehe hin: ich will dich senden zu dem Bethlehemiter Isai; denn unter seinen Söhnen habe ich mir einen König ersehen.
2 Samuel aber sprach: Wie soll ich hingehen? Saul wird's erfahren und mich erwürgen. Der HERR sprach: Nimm ein Kalb von den Rindern zu dir und sprich: Ich bin gekommen, dem HERRN zu opfern.
3 Und sollst Isai zum Opfer laden; da will ich dir weisen, was du tun sollst, daß du mir salbest, welchen ich dir sagen werde.
4 Samuel tat, wie ihm der HERR gesagt hatte, und kam gen Bethlehem. Da entsetzten sich die Ältesten der Stadt und gingen ihm entgegen und sprachen: Ist's Friede, daß du kommst?
5 Er sprach: Ja, ich bin gekommen, dem HERRN zu opfern; heiligt euch und kommt zu mir zum Opfer. Und er heiligte Isai und seine Söhne und lud sie zum Opfer.
6 Da sie nun hereinkamen, sah er den Eliab an und gedachte, der sei vor dem HERRN sein Gesalbter.
7 Aber der HERR sprach zu Samuel: Sieh nicht an seine Gestalt noch seine große Person; ich habe ihn verworfen. Denn es geht nicht, wie ein Mensch sieht: ein Mensch sieht, was vor Augen ist; der HERR aber sieht das Herz an.
8 Da rief Isai den Abinadab und ließ ihn an Samuel vorübergehen. Und er sprach: Diesen hat der HERR auch nicht erwählt.
9 Da ließ Isai vorübergehen Samma. Er aber sprach: Diesen hat der HERR auch nicht erwählt.
10 Da ließ Isai seine sieben Söhne an Samuel vorübergehen. Aber Samuel sprach zu Isai: Der HERR hat der keinen erwählt.
11 Und Samuel sprach zu Isai: Sind das die Knaben alle? Er aber sprach: Es ist noch übrig der jüngste; und siehe, er hütet die Schafe. Da sprach Samuel zu Isai; Sende hin und laß ihn holen; denn wir werden uns nicht setzen, bis er hierherkomme.
12 Da sandte er hin und ließ ihn holen. Und er war bräunlich, mit schönen Augen und guter Gestalt. Und der HERR sprach: Auf! und salbe ihn; denn der ist's.
13 Da nahm Samuel sein Ölhorn und salbte ihn mitten unter seinen Brüdern. Und der Geist des HERRN geriet über David von dem Tage an und fürder. Samuel aber machte sich auf und ging gen Rama.
14 Und der Geist des HERRN wich von Saul, und ein böser Geist vom HERRN machte ihn unruhig.
15 Da sprachen die Knechte Sauls zu ihm: Siehe, ein böser Geist von Gott macht dich sehr unruhig;
16 unser Herr sage seinen Knechten, die vor ihm stehen, daß sie einen Mann suchen, der auf der Harfe wohl spielen könne, auf daß, wenn der böse Geist Gottes über dich kommt, er mit seiner Hand spiele, daß es besser mit dir werde.
17 Da sprach Saul zu seinen Knechten: Seht nach einem Mann, der des Saitenspiels kundig ist, und bringt ihn zu mir.
18 Da antwortete der Jünglinge einer und sprach: Siehe, ich habe gesehen einen Sohn Isais, des Bethlehemiten, der ist des Saitenspiels kundig; ein rüstiger Mann und streitbar und verständig in seinen Reden und schön, und der HERR ist mit ihm.
19 Da sandte Saul Boten zu Isai und ließ ihm sagen: Sende deinen Sohn David zu mir, der bei den Schafen ist.
20 Da nahm Isai einen Esel mit Brot und einen Schlauch Wein und ein Ziegenböcklein und sandte es Saul durch seinen Sohn David.
21 Also kam David zu Saul und diente vor ihm, und er gewann ihn sehr lieb, und er ward sein Waffenträger.
22 Und Saul sandte zu Isai und ließ ihm sagen: Laß David vor mir bleiben; denn er hat Gnade gefunden vor meinen Augen.
23 Wenn nun der Geist Gottes über Saul kam, so nahm David die Harfe und spielte mit seiner Hand; so erquickte sich Saul, und es ward besser mit ihm, und der böse Geist wich von ihm.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
New King James Version (NKJV) 
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Luther Bibel 1545 (LUTH1545)
Copyright © 1545 by Public Domain