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1 Samuel 16:14-23
International Standard Version
1 Samuel 16:14-23
International Standard Version
14 The Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him. 15 Saul’s servants told him, “Look, an evil spirit from God is troubling you. 16 Let our lord order his servants who attend you[a] to look for a man who is skilled in playing the lyre. And then when an evil spirit from God comes on you, he will play[b] and you will be better.”
17 Saul told his servants, “Find[c] a man for me who can play well and bring him to me.”
18 One of the young men answered: “Look, I’ve seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite who is skilled in playing. The man is a valiant soldier, gifted in speech, and handsome. And the Lord is with him.”
19 So Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.”
20 Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a container of wine, and one kid, and sent them to Saul along with his son David. 21 David went to Saul and began to serve him.[d] Saul loved him very much, and he became his armor bearer. 22 Saul sent a messenger[e] to Jesse to tell him, “Allow David to serve me, because I’m pleased with him.”[f] 23 Whenever an evil[g] spirit from God came to Saul, David would take the lyre and play it.[h] Relief would come to Saul and he would be better, because the evil spirit would leave him.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 1 Samuel 16:16 Lit. who are before you
- 1 Samuel 16:16 Lit. play with his hand
- 1 Samuel 16:17 Lit. Provide
- 1 Samuel 16:21 Lit. stood before him
- 1 Samuel 16:22 The Heb. lacks a messenger
- 1 Samuel 16:22 Lit. because he has found favor in my sight
- 1 Samuel 16:23 The Heb. lacks evil
- 1 Samuel 16:23 Lit. play with his hand
1 Samuel 16:14-23
New International Version
1 Samuel 16:14-23
New International Version
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.”
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(E) of Bethlehem who knows how to play the lyre. He is a brave man and a warrior.(F) He speaks well and is a fine-looking man. And the Lord is with(G) him.”
19 Then Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.(H)” 20 So Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread,(I) 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.(J) 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(K) would leave him.
Footnotes
- 1 Samuel 16:14 Or and a harmful; similarly in verses 15, 16 and 23
International Standard Version (ISV) 
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New International Version (NIV) 
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