Psalm 27

Of David.

³⁴ Then Samuel left for Ramah,^(A) but Saul went up to his home in Gibeah^(B) of Saul. ³⁵ Until the day Samuel^(C) died, he did not go to see Saul again, though Samuel mourned^(D) for him. And the Lord regretted^(E) that he had made Saul king over Israel.

Samuel Anoints David

16 The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn^(F) for Saul, since I have rejected^(G) him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil^(H) and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse^(I) of Bethlehem. I have chosen^(J) 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^(K) you what to do. You are to anoint^(L) for me the one I indicate.”

⁴ Samuel did what the Lord said. When he arrived at Bethlehem,^(M) the elders of the town trembled^(N) when they met him. They asked, “Do you come in peace?^(O)”

⁵ Samuel replied, “Yes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate^(P) 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^(Q) 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,^(R) but the Lord looks at the heart.”^(S)

⁸ Then Jesse called Abinadab^(T) and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “The Lord has not chosen this one either.” ⁹ Jesse then had Shammah^(U) 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^(V) the sons you have?”

“There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep.”^(W)

Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.”

¹² So he^(X) sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome^(Y) features.

Then the Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.”

¹³ So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed^(Z) him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord^(AA) came powerfully upon David.^(AB) Samuel then went to Ramah.

Jesus Calls Levi and Eats With Sinners^(A)

²⁷ After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. “Follow me,”^(B) Jesus said to him, ²⁸ and Levi got up, left everything and followed him.^(C)

²⁹ Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors^(D) and others were eating with them. ³⁰ But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect^(E) complained to his disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”^(F)

³¹ Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. ³² I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”^(G)