1And YHWH said to Samuel, "How long are you mourning over Saul, since I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have seen for Myself a king among his sons."
2And Samuel said, "How can I go? When Saul hears, he will kill me." And YHWH said, "A heifer of the herd you shall take in your hand, and you shall say, 'To sacrifice to YHWH I have come.'"
3And you shall call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will make known to you what you shall do; and you shall anoint for Me him whom I say to you.
4And Samuel did that which YHWH spoke, and he came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the city trembled to meet him, and said, "Is your coming in peace?"
5And he said, "Peace; to sacrifice to YHWH I have come. Sanctify yourselves, and you shall come with me to the sacrifice." And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice.
6And it came to pass, when they came, that he saw Eliab, and said, "Surely before YHWH is His anointed."
7And YHWH said to Samuel, "Do not look to his appearance, or to the height of his stature, for I have rejected him; for it is not as the man (adam) sees; for the man (adam) looks to the eyes, but YHWH looks to the heart."
8And Jesse called to Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, "Also this one YHWH has not chosen."
9And Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, "Also this one YHWH has not chosen."
10And Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, "YHWH has not chosen these."
11And Samuel said to Jesse, "Are the young men complete?" And he said, "Yet remains the youngest, and behold, he is shepherding among the flock." And Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and take him, for we will not turn about until his coming here."
12And he sent, and brought him in. And he was ruddy, with beautiful eyes, and good of appearance. And YHWH said, "Arise, anoint him, for this is he."
13And Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the spirit (ruach) of YHWH rushed upon David from that day and onward. And Samuel arose, and went to Ramah.
14And the spirit (ruach) of YHWH departed from with Saul, and an evil spirit (ruach) from YHWH troubled him.
15And the servants of Saul said to him, "Behold now, an evil spirit (ruach) of God is troubling you.
16Let our lord now speak; your servants are before you; let them seek a man (ish) who knows to play on the harp; and it shall be, when the evil spirit (ruach) of God is upon you, that he shall play with his hand, and it shall be well with you."
17And Saul said to his servants, "See now for me a man (ish) who plays well, and bring him to me."
18And one of the young men answered and said, "Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who knows to play, and a mighty one of valor, and a man (ish) of war, and prudent of word, and a man (ish) of form; and YHWH is with him."
19And Saul sent messengers to Jesse, and said, "Send to me David your son, who is with the flock."
20And Jesse took a donkey laden with bread, and a skin of wine, and one kid of the goats, and sent them by the hand of David his son to Saul.
21And David came to Saul, and stood before him; and he loved him greatly, and he became his bearer of weapons.
22And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, "Let David now stand before me, for he has found favor in my eyes."
23And it came to pass, when the spirit (ruach) of God was upon Saul, that David took the harp, and played with his hand; and Saul found relief, and it was well with him, and the evil spirit (ruach) departed from upon him.