1The LORD 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." 2Samuel said, "How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me." The LORD said, "Take a heifer with you, and say, I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. 3Call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do. You shall anoint to me him whom I name to you." 4And Samuel did what the LORD said, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the city came to meet him trembling. And they said, "Is your visit peaceful, seer?" 5And he said, "Peaceful; I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Sanctify yourselves and celebrate with me today." He sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice.

6It happened, when they had come, that he looked at Eliab, and said, "Surely the LORD's anointed is before him." 7But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For humans do not see as God sees, for humans look at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart." 8Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. He said, "Neither has the LORD chosen this one." 9Then Jesse made Shimeah to pass by. He said, "Neither has the LORD chosen this one." 10And Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. Butd Samuel said, "The LORD has not chosen these." 11Then Samuel said to Jesse, "Are all your children here?" And he said, "There remains yet the youngest. Look, he is tending the sheep." And Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and get him; for we will not sit down until he comes here."

12So he sent and brought him in. And he was reddish brown, and had beautiful eyes, and was handsome. And the LORD said, "Arise, anoint him, for he is the one." 13Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brothers: and the Spirit of the LORD came mightily on David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.

14Now the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and a harmful spirit from the LORD tormented him. 15Saul's servants said to him, "See now, a harmful spirit from God is tormenting you. 16Let our lord now command your servants who are before you, to seek out a man who is a skillful player on the harp. It shall happen, when the harmful spirit is on you, that he shall play with his hand, and you shall be well, and it will give you relief." 17Saul said to his servants, "Provide me now a man who can play well, and bring him to me." 18Then one of the young men answered, and said, "Look, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is playing, and a mighty man of valor, and a warrior, and articulate in speech, and a handsome man; and the LORD is with him." 19Therefore Saul sent messengers to Jesse, and said, "Send me David your son, who is with the sheep." 20And Jesse took a donkey and loaded it with an omer of bread, and a skin of wine, and a young goat, and sent them by David his son to Saul. 21David came to Saul, and stood before him. He loved him greatly; and he became his armor bearer. 22Saul sent to Jesse, saying, "Please let David stand before me; for he has found favor in my sight." 23It happened, when the spirit from God was on Saul, that David took the harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the harmful spirit departed from him.