17 So Saul said to his servants, “Now select for me a man who can play well, and bring him to me.” 18 Then one of the young men responded and said, “Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite who is a skillful musician, (A)a valiant mighty man, a warrior, skillful in speech, and a handsome man; and (B)the Lord is with him.” 19 So Saul sent messengers to Jesse [a]to say, “Send me your son David, who is with the flock.” 20 And Jesse (C)took a donkey loaded with bread and a jug of wine, and he took a young goat, and sent them to Saul by his son David. 21 Then David came to Saul and [b](D)attended him; and Saul greatly loved him, and he became his armor bearer. 22 So Saul sent word to Jesse, saying, “Let David now [c]be my attendant for he has found favor in my sight.” 23 So it came about whenever (E)the evil spirit from God came to Saul, David would take the harp and play it with his hand; and Saul would feel relieved and become well, and the evil spirit would leave him.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 16:19 Lit and said
  2. 1 Samuel 16:21 Lit stood before him
  3. 1 Samuel 16:22 Lit stand before me

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(A) of Bethlehem who knows how to play the lyre. He is a brave man and a warrior.(B) He speaks well and is a fine-looking man. And the Lord is with(C) him.”

19 Then Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.(D) 20 So Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread,(E) 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.(F) 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(G) would leave him.

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