1 Samuel 16:14-23

Legacy Standard Bible

David Becomes Saul’s Armor Bearer

^14 (A)Now the Spirit of Yahweh departed from Saul, and ^(B)an evil spirit from Yahweh terrorized him. ¹⁵ Saul’s servants then said to him, “Behold now, an evil spirit from God is terrorizing you. ¹⁶ Let our lord now speak to your servants who are before you. Let them seek a man who is a skillful musician on the harp; and it shall be that when the evil spirit from God is on you, ^(C)he shall play the harp with his hand, and you will be well.” ¹⁷ So Saul said to his servants, “Provide for me now a man who can play well and bring him to me.” ¹⁸ Then one of the young men answered and said, “Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite who is a skillful musician, ^(D)a mighty man of valor, a warrior, one who is understanding in speech, and man of fine form; and ^(E)Yahweh is with him.” ¹⁹ So Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me your son David who is with the flock.” ²⁰ And Jesse ^(F)took a donkey loaded with bread and a wineskin of wine and a young goat and sent them to Saul by David his son. ²¹ Then David came to Saul and ^(G)stood before him; and ^[a]Saul loved him greatly, and he became his armor bearer. ²² So Saul sent to Jesse, saying, “Let David now stand before me, for he has found favor in my sight.” ²³ Thus it happened that whenever ^(H)the evil spirit from God came to Saul, David would take the harp and play it with his hand; and Saul would be refreshed and be well, and the evil spirit would depart from him.