1 The LORD said to Samuel, "How long are you going to grieve for Saul, now that I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and set out. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem, because I have picked out a king for myself among his sons."
2 Samuel said, "How can I go? Saul will hear of it and kill me." The LORD said, "Take a heifer from the herd with you and say, 'I have come to offer sacrifice to the LORD.'
3 Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will let you know what to do; you will anoint for me the one I point out to you."
4 Samuel did as the LORD had told him and went to Bethlehem. The town's elders came trembling to meet him and asked, "Is your coming peaceful?"
5 He said, "Peaceful. I have come to offer sacrifice to the LORD. Sanctify yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice." He sanctified Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.
6 As they arrived, he looked at Eliab and thought, "Surely here before the LORD is his anointed."
7 But the LORD told Samuel, "Pay no attention to his looks or how tall he stands, for I have rejected him. It is not as man sees: man sees what is before his eyes, but the LORD sees into the heart."
8 Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. He said, "The LORD has not chosen this one either."
9 Jesse had Shammah pass by. He said, "Nor has the LORD chosen this one."
10 Jesse had seven of his sons pass in front of Samuel, and Samuel told Jesse, "The LORD has not chosen any of these."
11 Samuel asked Jesse, "Are these all your boys?" He said, "There is still the youngest; he is out looking after the sheep." Samuel told Jesse, "Send for him and fetch him; we will not sit down to eat until he gets here."
12 So he sent and had him brought in. He was ruddy, with fine eyes and good looks. The LORD said, "Get up and anoint him; this is the one."
13 Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him among his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon David. Then Samuel set out and went to Ramah.
14 The Spirit of the LORD had left Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD terrified him.
15 Saul's servants told him, "You see, an evil spirit from God is terrifying you.
16 Let our lord give the word to your servants standing before you, and they will look for a man who is skilled at playing the lyre. Whenever the evil spirit from God is on you, he will play with his hand and you will feel better."
17 Saul told his servants, "Find me a man who plays well, then, and bring him to me."
18 One of the young men spoke up: "I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who is skilled at playing. He is a valiant man, a warrior, wise in speech, a man of fine appearance, and the LORD is with him."
19 So Saul sent messengers to Jesse to say, "Send me your son David, the one with the sheep."
20 Jesse took a donkey with bread, a skin of wine and a young goat, and sent them to Saul by his son David.
21 David came to Saul and stood before him. Saul grew very fond of him, and he became his armor-bearer.
22 Saul sent to Jesse to say, "Let David stay in my service, please; he has found favor in my sight."
23 Whenever the spirit from God was on Saul, David would take the lyre and play with his hand; Saul would get relief and feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him.