1 Samuel 16 NKJV NIV Parallel

◄ 1 Samuel 16 ►

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1Now the LORD said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go; I am sending you to Jesse the Bethlehemite. For I have provided Myself a king among his sons.”

1The LORD said to Samuel, "How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king."

2And Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me.” But the LORD said, “Take a heifer with you, and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.’

2But 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.'

3Then invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; you shall anoint for Me the one I name to you.”

3Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what to do. You are to anoint for me the one I indicate."

4So Samuel did what the LORD said, and went to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, “Do you come peaceably?”

4Samuel did what the LORD said. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town trembled when they met him. They asked, "Do you come in peace?"

5And he said, “Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons, and invited them to the sacrifice.

5Samuel replied, "Yes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Consecrate yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me." Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

6So it was, when they came, that he looked at Eliab and said, “Surely the LORD’s anointed is before Him!”

6When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, "Surely the LORD's anointed stands here before the LORD."

7But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

7But 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, but the LORD looks at the heart."

8So Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, “Neither has the LORD chosen this one.”

8Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, "The LORD has not chosen this one either."

9Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “Neither has the LORD chosen this one.”

9Jesse then had Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, "Nor has the LORD chosen this one."

10Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, “The LORD has not chosen these.”

10Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, "The LORD has not chosen these."

11And Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all the young men here?” Then he said, “There remains yet the youngest, and there he is, keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him. For we will not sit down till he comes here.”

11So he asked Jesse, "Are these all the sons you have?" "There is still the youngest," Jesse answered. "He is tending the sheep." Samuel said, "Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives."

12So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with bright eyes, and good-looking. And the LORD said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!”

12So he sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the LORD said, "Rise and anoint him; this is the one."

13Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah.

13So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon David. Samuel then went to Ramah.

14But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and a distressing spirit from the LORD troubled him.

14Now the Spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD tormented him.

15And Saul’s servants said to him, “Surely, a distressing spirit from God is troubling you.

15Saul's attendants said to him, "See, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you.

16Let our master now command your servants, who are before you, to seek out a man who is a skillful player on the harp. And it shall be that he will play it with his hand when the distressing spirit from God is upon you, and you shall be well.”

16Let our lord command his servants here to search for someone who can play the lyre. He will play when the evil spirit from God comes on you, and you will feel better."

17So Saul said to his servants, “Provide me now a man who can play well, and bring him to me.”

17So Saul said to his attendants, "Find someone who plays well and bring him to me."

18Then one of the servants answered and said, “Look, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a mighty man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a handsome person; and the LORD is with him.”

18One of the servants answered, "I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the lyre. He is a brave man and a warrior. He speaks well and is a fine-looking man. And the LORD is with him."

19Therefore Saul sent messengers to Jesse, and said, “Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.”

19Then Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, "Send me your son David, who is with the sheep."

20And Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a skin of wine, and a young goat, and sent them by his son David to Saul.

20So Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a skin of wine and a young goat and sent them with his son David to Saul.

21So David came to Saul and stood before him. And he loved him greatly, and he became his armorbearer.

21David came to Saul and entered his service. Saul liked him very much, and David became one of his armor-bearers.

22Then Saul sent to Jesse, saying, “Please let David stand before me, for he has found favor in my sight.”

22Then Saul sent word to Jesse, saying, "Allow David to remain in my service, for I am pleased with him."

23And so it was, whenever the spirit from God was upon Saul, that David would take a harp and play it with his hand. Then Saul would become refreshed and well, and the distressing spirit would depart from him.

23Whenever 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 would leave him.

New International Version (NIV)

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