161 Now the Lord said to Samuel , " How long will you grieve over Saul , since I have rejected him from being king over Israel ? Fill your horn with oil and go ; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite , for I have selected a king for Myself among his sons ." 2 But Samuel said , "How can I go ? When Saul hears of it, he will kill me." And the Lord said , " Take a heifer with you and say , 'I have come to sacrifice to the Lord .' 3 "You shall invite Jesse to the sacrifice , and I will show you what you shall do ; and you shall anoint for Me the one whom I designate to you." 4 So Samuel did what the Lord said , and came to Bethlehem . And the elders of the city came trembling to meet him and said , " Do you come in peace ?" 5 He said , "In peace ; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord . Consecrate yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice ." He also consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice .
6 When they entered , he looked at Eliab and thought , "Surely the Lord'S anointed is before Him." 7 But the Lord said to Samuel , "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature , because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees , for man looks at the outward appearance , but the Lord looks at the heart ." 8 Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel . And he said , "The Lord has not chosen this one either ." 9 Next Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said , "The Lord has not chosen this one either ." 10 Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel . But Samuel said to Jesse , "The Lord has not chosen these ." 11 And Samuel said to Jesse , "Are these all the children ?" And he said , " There remains yet the youngest , and behold , he is tending the 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. Now he was ruddy , with beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance . And the Lord said , " Arise , anoint him; for this is he." 13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers ; and the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward . And Samuel arose and went to Ramah .
14 Now the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul , and an evil spirit from the Lord 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 command your servants who are before you. Let them seek a man who is a skillful player on the harp ; and it shall come about when the evil spirit from God is on you, that 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 said , "Behold , I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite who is a skillful musician , a mighty man of valor , a warrior , one prudent in speech , and a handsome man ; and the Lord is with him." 19 So Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said , "Send me your son David who is with the flock ." 20 Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread and a jug of wine and a young goat , and sent them to Saul by David his son . 21 Then David came to Saul and attended him; and Saul loved him greatly , and he became his armor bearer . 22 Saul sent to Jesse , saying , "Let David now stand before me, for he has found favor in my sight ." 23 So it came about whenever 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.
