撒母耳膏立大衛做王
1耶和華對撒母耳說：「我已經拒絕讓掃羅做以色列王了，你還要為他哀傷多久呢？把你的角盛滿膏油，我要差遣你到伯利恆的耶西那裡，我已選了他的一個兒子做王。」 2撒母耳說：「我怎麼可以去呢？掃羅知道了，一定會殺掉我。」耶和華說：「你帶一頭牛犢去，就說，『我是來向耶和華獻祭的。』 3你要請耶西參加獻祭，我會告訴你怎麼做，我把誰指示給你，你就要為我膏立誰。」 4撒母耳遵行耶和華的吩咐，他來到伯利恆，那城的長老都戰戰兢兢地出來迎接他，問道：「你是為平安而來嗎？」 5撒母耳答道：「是的，為平安而來，我是來向耶和華獻祭的。你們要潔淨自己，然後來和我一起獻祭。」撒母耳為耶西及其眾子行過潔淨禮後，便邀請他們參加獻祭。
6耶西及其眾子來了，撒母耳看見以利押，心裡想：「這位肯定是耶和華要膏立的人。」 7但耶和華對撒母耳說：「不要看他相貌堂堂、身材高大，我要選的不是他。耶和華不像世人那樣看人，人看外表，耶和華看內心。」 8耶西吩咐他的兒子亞比拿達從撒母耳面前走過，但撒母耳說：「這也不是耶和華揀選的人。」 9耶西又叫沙瑪從撒母耳面前走過，但撒母耳說：「這也不是耶和華揀選的人。」 10耶西叫七個兒子一個一個從撒母耳面前走過，但撒母耳說他們都不是耶和華揀選的人。 11撒母耳問耶西：「你的兒子全都到齊了嗎？」耶西答道：「還有一個最小的，他正在田間放羊。」撒母耳對耶西說：「派人叫他回來，他不來，我們就不入座。」 12耶西就派人去叫他回來。他面色紅潤，眉清目秀，相貌英俊。耶和華說：「就是他，起來膏立他吧。」 13撒母耳就拿出盛膏油的角，當著他哥哥們的面膏立他。從那天起，耶和華的靈突然降在大衛身上。事後，撒母耳回拉瑪去了。
大衛服侍掃羅
14耶和華的靈離開了掃羅，有個邪靈從耶和華那裡來折磨他。 15掃羅的臣僕對他說：「現在有個邪靈從上帝那裡來折磨你， 16你16·16 「你」希伯來文是「我們的主」。可以吩咐跟前的臣僕去找一個善於彈琴的人來。邪靈從上帝那裡來到你身上的時候，他為你彈琴，你就舒暢了。」 17掃羅說：「你們就為我找一個善於彈琴的人，帶他到我這裡來。」 18其中有一個僕人說：「我見過伯利恆的耶西的一個兒子，他善於彈琴，英勇善戰，談吐合宜，相貌英俊，並且耶和華與他同在。」 19掃羅便差遣使者去見耶西，說：「請讓你放羊的兒子大衛到我這裡來。」 20耶西就把一些餅、一皮袋酒和一隻山羊羔馱在驢背上，讓兒子大衛帶去送給掃羅。 21大衛到了掃羅那裡，做了他身邊的侍臣。掃羅非常喜歡大衛，讓大衛為他拿兵器。 22掃羅派人去見耶西，說：「你就讓大衛留在我的身邊吧，因為我喜歡他。」 23每當有邪靈從上帝那裡來到掃羅身上的時候，大衛就為他彈琴，掃羅便覺得舒暢，邪靈也離開了他。
Samuel Anoints David
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.”
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.’ 3Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what to do. You are to anoint for me the one I indicate.”
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?”
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.
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 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.”
8Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “The Lord has not chosen this one either.” 9Jesse then had Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, “Nor has the Lord chosen this one.” 10Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, “The Lord has not chosen these.” 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 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.”
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.
David in Saul’s Service
14Now the Spirit of the Lord had departed from Saul, and an evil16:14 Or and a harmful; similarly in verses 15, 16 and 23 spirit from the Lord tormented him.
15Saul’s attendants said to him, “See, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you. 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 attendants, “Find someone who plays well and bring him to me.”
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.”
19Then Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.” 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.
21David came to Saul and entered his service. Saul liked him very much, and David became one of his armor-bearers. 22Then Saul sent word to Jesse, saying, “Allow David to remain in my service, for I am pleased with 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.
