1 Samuel 16:14-23

Lexham English Bible

Saul in Torment

¹⁴ Now the Spirit of Yahweh departed from Saul and an evil spirit from Yahweh tormented him. ¹⁵ So the servants of Saul said to him, “Look please, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you. ¹⁶ Please, let our lord command your servants who are before you! Let them seek a man skilled in playing on the lyre. When^[a] the evil spirit from God is upon you, he can play on it^[b] and you will feel better.”^{[c] 17} So Saul said to his servants, “Please select a man who plays a stringed instrument well^[d] and bring him to me.”

¹⁸ One of the servants answered and said, “Look, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite who is skillful in playing a stringed instrument, a brave man, a warrior, prudent in speech, and handsome.^[e] And Yahweh is with him.” ¹⁹ So Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me David your son who is with the sheep.” ²⁰ And Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread and a skin of wine and one young goat^[f] and sent them to Saul by the hand of David his son. ²¹ So David came to Saul and entered his service.^[g] He^[h] loved him greatly and he became Saul’s armor bearer.^{[i] 22} Then Saul sent word to Jesse, saying, “Please let David stand before me, because he has found favor in my sight.”^{[j] 23} So whenever the evil spirit from God came to Saul, David would take the stringed instrument and play it with his hand. Then it would bring relief^[k] for Saul; he would feel better^[l] and the evil spirit would depart from him.