| Holman Christian Standard Bible | International Standard Version |
| 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." | 1At that time the Philistines assembled their army for war to fight against Israel. Achish told David, "You know, of course, that you and your men will go out with me into the battle." |
| 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 told Achish, "Very well, you will now see what your servant will do." Achish told David, "Very well, I'll appoint you as my permanent bodyguard." |
| 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 Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in his own town of Ramah. Saul had expelled 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 assembled, moved out, and camped at Shunem, while Saul assembled all Israel and camped at Gilboa. |
| 5When Saul saw the Philistine camp, he was afraid and trembled violently. | 5When Saul saw the Philistine camp, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly. |
| 6He inquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him in dreams or by the Urim or by the prophets. | 6Saul inquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him, either through dreams or Urim or through 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." | 7Saul told his servants, "Find me a woman who is a medium so I can go to her and make my inquiry through her." His servants told him, "Look, there's a woman at Endor who is a medium." |
| 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." | 8Saul disguised himself, putting on different clothes. He went along with two men to the woman at night. He said, "Consult a familiar spirit for me and bring up for me the one whom I tell you." |
| 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?" | 9The woman told him, "Look, you know what Saul has done. He has removed mediums and spiritists from the land, so why are you trying to entrap me, so as to cause my death?" |
| 10Then Saul swore to her by the LORD: "As surely as the LORD lives, nothing bad will happen to you because of this." | 10Saul swore to her by the LORD: "As surely as the LORD lives, no punishment will come on you for this thing." |
| 11"Who is it that you want me to bring up for you?" the woman asked. "Bring up Samuel for me," he answered. | 11The woman said, "Whom shall I bring up for you?" Saul said, "Bring up Samuel for me." |
| 12When the woman saw Samuel, she screamed, and then she asked Saul, "Why did you deceive me? You are Saul!" | 12When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out loudly. The woman told 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. | 13The king told her, "Don't be afraid; but what do you see?" The woman told Saul, "I see a divine being coming up out of the ground." |
| 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. | 14Saul told her, "What does he look like?" She said, "An old man is coming up, and he's wrapped in a robe." Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed low to the ground and prostrated himself. |
| 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." | 15Samuel told Saul, "Why did you disturb me by bringing me up?" Saul said, "I'm in great distress. The Philistines are waging war against me. God has departed from me and won't answer me anymore, either by messages written by the hand of the prophets or by dreams. So I've summoned you to tell me what I should do." |
| 16Samuel answered, "Since the LORD has turned away from you and has become your enemy, why are you asking me? | 16Samuel said, "Why do you ask me, since the LORD has departed 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. | 17The LORD has done to you exactly as he spoke through me. The LORD has torn the kingdom away from you and has given it to your colleague 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 didn't obey the LORD and didn't display his fierce anger against Amalek, therefore, the LORD will do this thing 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." | 19The LORD is giving both you, and Israel with you, into Philistine control. Tomorrow, the LORD will give you, your sons with you, and also the army of Israel into the control 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. | 20Saul immediately fell down full-length on the ground. He was terrified because of Samuel's words, and he had no strength because he had not eaten food all day and all 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. | 21Then the woman came to Saul and saw that he was very disturbed. She told him, "Look, your servant obeyed you. I put my life into your hands, and I listened to your words that you spoke to 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. I'll put a piece of bread before you so you can eat and have 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 won't eat!" Both his servants and the woman urged him, and so he listened to them. He got up off 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 in the house, and she quickly slaughtered it. She 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 brought it to Saul and to his servants, and they ate. Then they got up and went out that night. |
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