The Tanakh · JPS 1917 Translation

1 Samuel 16

Jewish Publication Society 1917 · Nevi'im — the Prophets

1 Samuel chapter 16 — part of the Nevi'im — the Prophets in the Jewish Bible. In the classic JPS 1917 translation it opens: “And HaShem said unto Samuel: 'How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from being king over Israel? fill thy horn with…” — the complete text of all 23 verses is below, free to read online.

1And HaShem said unto Samuel: 'How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from being king over Israel? fill thy horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Beth-lehemite; for I have provided Me a king among his sons.'

2And Samuel said: 'How can I go? if Saul hear it, he will kill me.' And HaShem said: 'Take a heifer with thee, and say: I am come to sacrifice to HaShem.

3And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will tell thee what thou shalt do; and thou shalt anoint unto Me him whom I name unto thee.'

4And Samuel did that which HaShem spoke, and came to Beth-lehem. And the elders of the city came to meet him trembling, and said: 'Comest thou peaceably?'

5And he said: 'Peaceably; I am come to sacrifice unto HaShem; sanctify yourselves and 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 were come, that he beheld Eliab, and said: 'Surely HaShem'S anointed is before Him.'

7But HaShem said unto Samuel: 'Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have rejected him; for it is not as man seeth: for man looketh on the outward appearance, but HaShem looketh on the heart.'

8Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said: 'Neither hath HaShem chosen this.'

9Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said: 'Neither hath HaShem chosen this.'

10And Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse: 'The HaShem hath not chosen these.'

11And Samuel said unto Jesse: 'Are here all thy children?' And he said: 'There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep.' And Samuel said unto Jesse: 'Send and fetch him; for we will not sit down till he come hither.'

12And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of beautiful eyes, and goodly to look upon. And HaShem said: 'Arise, anoint him; for this is he.'

13Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren; and the spirit of HaShem came mightily upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.

14Now the spirit of HaShem had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from HaShem terrified him.

15And Saul's servants said unto him: 'Behold now, an evil spirit from G-d terrifieth thee.

16Let our lord now command thy servants, that are before thee, to seek out a man who is a skilful player on the harp; and it shall be, when the evil spirit from G-d cometh upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well.'

17And Saul said unto his servants: 'Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me.'

18Then answered one of the young men, and said: 'Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Beth-lehemite, that is skilful in playing, and a mighty man of valour, and a man of war, and prudent in affairs, and a comely person, and HaShem is with him.'

19Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said: 'Send me David thy son, who is with the sheep.'

20And Jesse took an ass laden with bread, and a bottle of wine, and a kid, and sent them by David his son unto Saul.

21And David came to Saul, and stood before him; and he loved him greatly; and he became his armour-bearer.

22And Saul sent to Jesse, saying: 'Let David, I pray thee, stand before me; for he hath found favour in my sight.'

23And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from G-d was upon Saul, that David took the harp, and played with his hand; so Saul found relief, and it was well with him, and the evil spirit departed from him.

23 verses · JPS 1917 (public domain)

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