Samuel 16

1 Yahweh said to Samuel, “How long will
you mourn for 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 provided
a king for myself among his sons.”

2 Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul
hears it, he will kill me.”
Yahweh said, “Take a heifer with you,
and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to Yahweh.’

3 Call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will
show you what you shall do. You shall
anoint to me him whom I name to you.”

4 Samuel did that which Yahweh spoke,
and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the
city came to meet him trembling, and said,
“Do you come peaceably?”

5 He said, “Peaceably; I have come to
sacrifice to Yahweh. Sanctify yourselves,
and come with me to the sacrifice.” He
sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called
them to the sacrifice.

6 When they had come, he looked at
Eliab, and said, “Surely Yahweh’s anointed
is before him.”

7 But Yahweh said to Samuel, “Don’t look
on his face, or on the height of his stature,
because I have rejected him; for I don’t
see as man sees. For man looks at the
outward appearance, but Yahweh looks at
the heart.”

8 Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made
him pass before Samuel. He said, “Yahweh
has not chosen this one, either.”

9 Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by.
He said, “Yahweh has not chosen this one,
either.”

10 Jesse made seven of his sons to pass
before Samuel. Samuel said to Jesse, “Yahweh has not chosen these.”

11 Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your
children here?” He said, “There remains yet the
youngest. Behold, he is keeping the sheep.”
Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and get him,
for we will not sit down until he comes
here.”

12 He sent, and brought him in. Now he
was ruddy, with a handsome face and good
appearance. Yahweh said, “Arise! Anoint
him, for this is he.”