| Holman Christian Standard Bible | Berean Study Bible |
| 1At that time, the Philistines brought their military units together into one army to fight against Israel. So Achish said to David, "You know, of course, that you and your men must march out in the army with me." | 1Now in those days the Philistines gathered their forces for warfare against Israel. So Achish said to David, “You must understand that you and your men are to go out to battle with me.” |
| 2David replied to Achish, "Good, you will find out what your servant can do." So Achish said to David, "Very well, I will appoint you as my permanent bodyguard." | 2David replied, “Then you will come to know what your servant can do.” “Very well,” said Achish. “I will make you my bodyguard for life.” |
| 3By this time Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, his city, and Saul had removed the mediums and spiritists from the land. | 3Now by this time Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, his own city. And Saul had removed the mediums and spiritists from the land. |
| 4The Philistines came together and camped at Shunem. So Saul gathered all Israel, and they camped at Gilboa. | 4The Philistines came together and camped at Shunem, while Saul gathered all Israel and camped at Gilboa. |
| 5When Saul saw the Philistine camp, he was afraid and trembled violently. | 5When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid and trembled violently. |
| 6He inquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him in dreams or by the Urim or by the prophets. | 6He inquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets. |
| 7Saul then said to his servants, "Find me a woman who is a medium, so I can go and consult her." His servants replied, "There is a woman at En-dor who is a medium." | 7Then Saul said to his servants, “Find me a woman who is a medium, so I can go and consult her.” “There is a medium at Endor,” his servants replied. |
| 8Saul disguised himself by putting on different clothes and set out with two of his men. They came to the woman at night, and Saul said, "Consult a spirit for me. Bring up for me the one I tell you." | 8So Saul disguised himself by putting on different clothes, and he set out with two of his men. They came to the woman at night, and Saul said, “Consult a spirit for me. Bring up for me the one I name.” |
| 9But the woman said to him, "You surely know what Saul has done, how he has killed the mediums and spiritists in the land. Why are you setting a trap for me to get me killed?" | 9But the woman replied, “Surely you know what Saul has done, how he has killed the mediums and spiritists in the land. Why have you set a trap to get me killed?” |
| 10Then Saul swore to her by the LORD: "As surely as the LORD lives, nothing bad will happen to you because of this." | 10Then Saul swore to her by the LORD: “As surely as the LORD lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this.” |
| 11"Who is it that you want me to bring up for you?" the woman asked. "Bring up Samuel for me," he answered. | 11“Whom shall I bring up for you?” the woman asked. “Bring up Samuel,” he replied. |
| 12When the woman saw Samuel, she screamed, and then she asked Saul, "Why did you deceive me? You are Saul!" | 12But when the woman saw Samuel, she cried out in a loud voice and said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!” |
| 13But the king said to her, "Don't be afraid. What do you see?" "I see a spirit form coming up out of the earth," the woman answered. | 13“Do not be afraid,” the king replied. “What do you see?” “I see a god coming up out of the earth,” the woman answered. |
| 14Then Saul asked her, "What does he look like?" "An old man is coming up," she replied. "He's wearing a robe." Then Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed his face to the ground and paid homage. | 14“What does he look like?” asked Saul. “An old man is coming up,” she replied. “And he is wearing a robe.” So Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed facedown in reverence. |
| 15"Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?" Samuel asked Saul. "I'm in serious trouble," replied Saul. "The Philistines are fighting against me and God has turned away from me. He doesn't answer me anymore, either through the prophets or in dreams. So I've called on you to tell me what I should do." | 15Then Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” “I am deeply distressed,” replied Saul. “The Philistines are fighting against me, and God has turned away from me. He no longer answers me, either by prophets or by dreams. So I have called on you to tell me what to do.” |
| 16Samuel answered, "Since the LORD has turned away from you and has become your enemy, why are you asking me? | 16“Why do you consult me,” asked Samuel, “since the LORD has turned away from you and become your enemy? |
| 17The LORD has done exactly what He said through me: The LORD has torn the kingship out of your hand and given it to your neighbor David. | 17He has done exactly what He spoke through me: The LORD has torn the kingship out of your hand and given it to your neighbor David. |
| 18You did not obey the LORD and did not carry out His burning anger against Amalek; therefore the LORD has done this to you today. | 18Because you did not obey the LORD or carry out His burning anger against Amalek, the LORD has done this to you today. |
| 19The LORD will also hand Israel over to the Philistines along with you. Tomorrow you and your sons will be with me, and the LORD will hand Israel's army over to the Philistines." | 19Moreover, the LORD will deliver Israel with you into the hand of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. And the LORD will deliver the army of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.” |
| 20Immediately, Saul fell flat on the ground. He was terrified by Samuel's words and was also weak because he hadn't had any food all day and all night. | 20Immediately Saul fell flat on the ground, terrified by the words of Samuel. And his strength was gone, because he had not eaten anything all that day and night. |
| 21The woman came over to Saul, and she saw that he was terrified and said to him, "Look, your servant has obeyed you. I took my life in my hands and did what you told me to do. | 21When the woman came to Saul and saw how distraught he was, she said to him, “Look, your maidservant has obeyed your voice. I took my life in my hands and did as you told me. |
| 22Now please listen to your servant. Let me set some food in front of you. Eat and it will give you strength so you can go on your way." | 22Now please listen to your servant and let me set a morsel of bread before you so you may eat and have the strength to go on your way.” |
| 23He refused, saying, "I won't eat," but when his servants and the woman urged him, he listened to them. He got up off the ground and sat on the bed. | 23Saul refused, saying, “I will not eat.” But his servants joined the woman in urging him, and he heeded their voice. He got up from the ground and sat on the bed. |
| 24The woman had a fattened calf at her house, and she quickly slaughtered it. She also took flour, kneaded it, and baked unleavened bread. | 24The woman had a fattened calf at her house, and she quickly slaughtered it. She also took flour, kneaded it, and baked unleavened bread. |
| 25She served it to Saul and his servants, and they ate. Afterward, they got up and left that night. | 25She served it to Saul and his servants, and they ate. And that night they got up and left. |
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