1 And the LORD {YHWH, Sovereign Chooser} said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill your horn with oil {shemen: anointing substance} and go; I am sending you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have seen for myself a king among his sons.”
2 And Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears, he will kill me.” And the LORD {YHWH, Sovereign Protector} said, “Take the heifer of the herd {eglat: sacrificial heifer} in your hand and say, ‘To sacrifice to the LORD I have come.’”
3 And you shall call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I {YHWH, Sovereign Guide} will make known to you what you are to do. And you shall anoint {mashach: consecrate} the one whom I will declare to you.
4 And Samuel did what the LORD {YHWH, Covenant Commander} commanded, and he came to Bethlehem. The elders {ziknei: respected leaders} of the city trembled to meet him, and they said, “Is your coming in peace?”
5 And he said, “Peace {shalom: wholeness of purpose}. I have come to sacrifice to the LORD {YHWH, Worship Recipient}. Consecrate yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.
6 And it happened, when they came, that he saw Eliab and said, “Surely before the LORD {YHWH, Sovereign Chooser} stands His anointed one {meshiach: divinely set apart}.”
7 But the LORD {YHWH, Sovereign Judge} said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, for I have rejected him; for the human does not see as mortals see, for they look at the outward, but the LORD sees to the heart {levav: inner self}.”
8 And Jesse called to Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, “The LORD {YHWH, Supreme Selector} has not chosen this one either {gam: likewise}.”
9 Then Jesse made Shammah pass by, and Samuel said, “The LORD {YHWH, Chooser of Kings} has not chosen {bachar: selected by divine decision} this one either.”
10 And Jesse caused seven of his sons to pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to Jesse, “The LORD {YHWH, Sovereign Chooser} has not chosen {bachar: selected with purpose} these.”
11 And Samuel said to Jesse, “Are the young men all here?” And he replied, “There remains still the youngest {qatan: least in age}, and behold, he is tending the flock {tson: sheep}.” Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him, for we will not sit down until he comes here.”
12 So he sent and brought him in. And he was ruddy {admoni: reddish complexion}, with beautiful eyes and handsome appearance. Then the LORD {YHWH, Sovereign Chooser} said, “Arise and anoint him; for this is he.”
13 And Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers {beqerev: among witnesses}, and the Spirit of the LORD {YHWH, Empowering Spirit} came mightily upon David from that day onward. Then Samuel rose and went to Ramah.
14 And the Spirit of the LORD {YHWH, Empowering Presence} departed from Saul, and an evil spirit {ruach-ra’ah: destructive influence} from the LORD terrified him.
15 And the servants of Saul said to him, “Behold, now an evil spirit from God {Elohim, Sovereign Sender} is terrifying {mĕvaʿittĕḵā: causing trembling} you.”
16 Let our lord {adonenu: master of the household} now command your servants to seek a man who is skillful in playing the lyre. And it shall be, whenever the evil spirit from God {Elohim, Discipliner} is upon you, he will play with his hand, and it will be well for you.
17 And Saul said to his servants {avadav: royal attendants}, “Please look for me a man who is skilled {meitiv: proficient performer} at playing, and bring him to me.”
18 And one of the young men answered and said, “Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, skillful in playing, a mighty man of valor {gibor chayil: courageous strength}, a man of war, prudent in speech, a comely person, and the LORD {YHWH, Divine Favor} is with him.”
19 Then Saul {Sha’ul: Anointed King} sent messengers to Jesse and said, “Send to me David your son, who is among the sheep {batson: flock of small livestock}.”
20 And Jesse took a donkey {khamor: burden bearer} loaded with bread, a skin of wine, and one young goat {gedi: young goat}, and sent them by the hand of his son David to Saul.
21 And David came to Saul, and he stood before him; and Saul loved him {vaye’ehavehu: deep attachment} greatly, and David became his armor-bearer {nose kelim: bearer of weapons}.
22 And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, “Please let David continue to stand {ya’amad-nā: Eager Request} before me, for he has found favor {chen: Gracious Acceptance} in my eyes.”
23 And it happened, whenever the spirit of God {Elohim, Sovereign Sender} was upon Saul, David would take the lyre {hakinnor: stringed instrument} and play with his hand, and relief came to Saul, and it was good for him; and the evil spirit departed from him.