| New Living Translation | NET Bible |
| 1About that time the Philistines mustered their armies for another war with Israel. King Achish told David, “You and your men will be expected to join me in battle.” | 1In those days the Philistines gathered their troops for war in order to fight Israel. Achish said to David, "You should fully understand that you and your men must go with me into the battle." |
| 2“Very well!” David agreed. “Now you will see for yourself what we can do.” Then Achish told David, “I will make you my personal bodyguard for life.” | 2David replied to Achish, "That being the case, you will come to know what your servant can do!" Achish said to David, "Then I will make you my bodyguard from now on." |
| 3Meanwhile, Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him. He was buried in Ramah, his hometown. And Saul had banned from the land of Israel all mediums and those who consult the spirits of the dead. | 3Now Samuel had died, and all Israel had lamented over him and had buried him in Ramah, his hometown. In the meantime Saul had removed the mediums and magicians from the land. |
| 4The Philistines set up their camp at Shunem, and Saul gathered all the army of Israel and camped at Gilboa. | 4The Philistines assembled; they came and camped at Shunem. Saul mustered all Israel and camped at Gilboa. |
| 5When Saul saw the vast Philistine army, he became frantic with fear. | 5When Saul saw the camp of the Philistines, he was absolutely terrified. |
| 6He asked the LORD what he should do, but the LORD refused to answer him, either by dreams or by sacred lots or by the prophets. | 6So Saul inquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him--not by dreams nor by Urim nor by the prophets. |
| 7Saul then said to his advisers, “Find a woman who is a medium, so I can go and ask her what to do.” His advisers replied, “There is a medium at Endor.” | 7So Saul instructed his servants, "Find me a woman who is a medium, so that I may go to her and inquire of her." His servants replied to him, "There is a woman who is a medium in Endor." |
| 8So Saul disguised himself by wearing ordinary clothing instead of his royal robes. Then he went to the woman’s home at night, accompanied by two of his men. “I have to talk to a man who has died,” he said. “Will you call up his spirit for me?” | 8So Saul disguised himself and put on other clothing and left, accompanied by two of his men. They came to the woman at night and said, "Use your ritual pit to conjure up for me the one I tell you." |
| 9“Are you trying to get me killed?” the woman demanded. “You know that Saul has outlawed all the mediums and all who consult the spirits of the dead. Why are you setting a trap for me?” | 9But the woman said to him, "Look, you are aware of what Saul has done; he has removed the mediums and magicians from the land! Why are you trapping me so you can put me to death?" |
| 10But Saul took an oath in the name of the LORD and promised, “As surely as the LORD lives, nothing bad will happen to you for doing this.” | 10But Saul swore an oath to her by the LORD, "As surely as the LORD lives, you will not incur guilt in this matter!" |
| 11Finally, the woman said, “Well, whose spirit do you want me to call up?” “Call up Samuel,” Saul replied. | 11The woman replied, "Who is it that I should bring up for you?" He said, "Bring up for me Samuel." |
| 12When the woman saw Samuel, she screamed, “You’ve deceived me! You are Saul!” | 12When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out loudly. The woman said to Saul, "Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!" |
| 13“Don’t be afraid!” the king told her. “What do you see?” “I see a god coming up out of the earth,” she said. | 13The king said to her, "Don't be afraid! What have you seen?" The woman replied to Saul, "I have seen one like a god coming up from the ground!" |
| 14“What does he look like?” Saul asked. “He is an old man wrapped in a robe,” she replied. Saul realized it was Samuel, and he fell to the ground before him. | 14He said to her, "What about his appearance?" She said, "An old man is coming up! He is wrapped in a robe!" Then Saul realized it was Samuel, and he bowed his face toward the ground and kneeled down. |
| 15“Why have you disturbed me by calling me back?” Samuel asked Saul. “Because I am in deep trouble,” Saul replied. “The Philistines are at war with me, and God has left me and won’t reply by prophets or dreams. So I have called for you to tell me what to do.” | 15Samuel said to Saul, "Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?" Saul replied, "I am terribly troubled! The Philistines are fighting against me and God has turned away from me. He does not answer me--not by the prophets nor by dreams. So I have called on you to tell me what I should do." |
| 16But Samuel replied, “Why ask me, since the LORD has left you and has become your enemy? | 16Samuel said, "Why are you asking me, now that the LORD has turned away from you and has become your enemy? |
| 17The LORD has done just as he said he would. He has torn the kingdom from you and given it to your rival, David. | 17The LORD has done exactly as I prophesied! The LORD has torn the kingdom from your hand and has given it to your neighbor David! |
| 18The LORD has done this to you today because you refused to carry out his fierce anger against the Amalekites. | 18Since you did not obey the LORD and did not carry out his fierce anger against the Amalekites, the LORD has done this thing to you today. |
| 19What’s more, the LORD will hand you and the army of Israel over to the Philistines tomorrow, and you and your sons will be here with me. The LORD will bring down the entire army of Israel in defeat.” | 19The LORD will hand you and Israel over to the Philistines! Tomorrow both you and your sons will be with me. The LORD will also hand the army of Israel over to the Philistines!" |
| 20Saul fell full length on the ground, paralyzed with fright because of Samuel’s words. He was also faint with hunger, for he had eaten nothing all day and all night. | 20Saul quickly fell full length on the ground and was very afraid because of Samuel's words. He was completely drained of energy, not having eaten anything all that day and night. |
| 21When the woman saw how distraught he was, she said, “Sir, I obeyed your command at the risk of my life. | 21When the woman came to Saul and saw how terrified he was, she said to him, "Your servant has done what you asked. I took my life into my own hands and did what you told me. |
| 22Now do what I say, and let me give you a little something to eat so you can regain your strength for the trip back.” | 22Now it's your turn to listen to your servant! Let me set before you a bit of bread so that you can eat. When you regain your strength, you can go on your way." |
| 23But Saul refused to eat anything. Then his advisers joined the woman in urging him to eat, so he finally yielded and got up from the ground and sat on the couch. | 23But he refused, saying, "I won't eat!" Both his servants and the woman urged him to eat, so he gave in. He got up from the ground and sat down on the bed. |
| 24The woman had been fattening a calf, so she hurried out and killed it. She took some flour, kneaded it into dough and baked unleavened bread. | 24Now the woman had a well-fed calf at her home that she quickly slaughtered. Taking some flour, she kneaded bread and baked it without leaven. |
| 25She brought the meal to Saul and his advisers, and they ate it. Then they went out into the night. | 25She brought it to Saul and his servants, and they ate. Then they arose and left that same night. |
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