< 1 Samuel 9 >

1 Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah, the son of a Benjamite, a mighty man of valor.
Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power.
2 He had a son, whose name was Saul, a handsome young man; and there was no one among the children of Israel more handsome than he was. From his shoulders and upward he was taller than any of the people.
And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people.
3 Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul's father, were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son, "Take now one of the servants with you, and arise, go and look for the donkeys." So Saul got up and took one of the servants of his father with him and went to look for the donkeys of his father Kish.
And the asses of Kish Saul’s father were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son, Take now one of the servants with you, and arise, go seek the asses.
4 He passed through the hill country of Ephraim and passed through the land of Shalishah, but they did not find them. Then they passed through the land of Shaalim, but they weren't there. Then he passed through the land of the Jaminites, but they did not find them.
And he passed through mount Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalisha, but they found them not: then they passed through the land of Shalim, and there they were not: and he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they found them not.
5 When they had come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant who was with him, "Come, and let us return, lest my father stop caring about the donkeys, and be anxious for us."
And when they were come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant that was with him, Come, and let us return; lest my father leave caring for the asses, and take thought for us.
6 He said to him, "See now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is a man who is held in honor. All that he says surely comes to pass. Now let us go there. Perhaps he can tell us concerning our journey on which we have set out."
And he said to him, Behold now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is an honorable man; all that he says comes surely to pass: now let us go thither; peradventure he can show us our way that we should go.
7 Then Saul said to his servant, "But look, if we go, what shall we bring the man? For the bread is gone in our vessels, and there is no gift to bring to the man of God. What do we have?"
Then said Saul to his servant, But, behold, if we go, what shall we bring the man? for the bread is spent in our vessels, and there is not a present to bring to the man of God: what have we?
8 The servant answered Saul again, and said, "Look, I have in my hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver. I will give that to the man of God, to tell us our way."
And the servant answered Saul again, and said, Behold, I have here at hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver: that will I give to the man of God, to tell us our way.
9 (In earlier times in Israel, whenever someone went to inquire of God, he would say, "Come, and let us go to the seer"; for he who is now called a prophet was formerly called a seer.)
(Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, thus he spoke, Come, and let us go to the seer: for he that is now called a Prophet was beforetime called a Seer.)
10 Then Saul said to his servant, "Well said. Come, let us go." So they went to the city where the man of God was.
Then said Saul to his servant, Well said; come, let us go. So they went to the city where the man of God was.
11 As they went up the ascent to the city, they found young maidens going out to draw water, and said to them, "Is the seer here?"
And as they went up the hill to the city, they found young maidens going out to draw water, and said to them, Is the seer here?
12 They answered them, and said, "He is. Look, he is ahead of you. Hurry now, for he has come today into the city; for the people have a sacrifice today in the high place.
And they answered them, and said, He is; behold, he is before you: make haste now, for he came to day to the city; for there is a sacrifice of the people to day in the high place:
13 As soon as you have come into the city, you shall immediately find him, before he goes up to the high place to eat; for the people will not eat until he comes, because he blesses the sacrifice; afterward those who are invited eat. Now therefore go up; for at this time you shall find him."
As soon as you be come into the city, you shall straightway find him, before he go up to the high place to eat: for the people will not eat until he come, because he does bless the sacrifice; and afterwards they eat that be bidden. Now therefore get you up; for about this time you shall find him.
14 They went up to the city. As they came within the city, look, Samuel came out toward them, to go up to the high place.
And they went up into the city: and when they were come into the city, behold, Samuel came out against them, for to go up to the high place.
15 Now Jehovah had revealed to Samuel a day before Saul came, saying,
Now the LORD had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying,
16 "Tomorrow about this time I will send you a man out of the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be prince over my people Israel; and he shall save my people out of the hand of the Philistines; for I have seen the suffering of my people, because their cry has come to me."
To morrow about this time I will send you a man out of the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be captain over my people Israel, that he may save my people out of the hand of the Philistines: for I have looked on my people, because their cry is come to me.
17 When Samuel saw Saul, Jehovah said to him, "Look, the man of whom I spoke to you. This one shall have authority over my people."
And when Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said to him, Behold the man whom I spoke to you of! this same shall reign over my people.
18 Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, "Please tell me where the seer's house is."
Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray you, where the seer’s house is.
19 And Samuel answered Saul, and said, "I am he. Go up before me to the high place, for you will eat with me today. In the morning I will let you go, and will tell you all that is in your heart.
And Samuel answered Saul, and said, I am the seer: go up before me to the high place; for you shall eat with me to day, and to morrow I will let you go, and will tell you all that is in your heart.
20 As for your donkeys who were lost three days ago, do not set your mind on them; for they have been found. And for whom does all Israel desire? Is it not for you, and for all your father's house?"
And as for your asses that were lost three days ago, set not your mind on them; for they are found. And on whom is all the desire of Israel? Is it not on you, and on all your father’s house?
21 Saul answered, "Am I not a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? And my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then do you speak to me like this?"
And Saul answered and said, Am not I a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? why then speak you so to me?
22 Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them into the guest room, and made them sit in the best place among those who were invited, who were about thirty persons.
And Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them into the parlor, and made them sit in the most chief place among them that were bidden, which were about thirty persons.
23 And Samuel said to the cook, "Bring the portion which I gave you, of which I told you to set aside."
And Samuel said to the cook, Bring the portion which I gave you, of which I said to you, Set it by you.
24 The cook picked up the leg, and that which was attached to it, and set it before Saul. And he said, "Look, here is what has been kept for you. Set it before you and eat, because it was kept especially for you until the right time; because I said, 'I have invited the people.'" So Saul ate with Samuel that day.
And the cook took up the shoulder, and that which was on it, and set it before Saul. And Samuel said, Behold that which is left! set it before you, and eat: for to this time has it been kept for you since I said, I have invited the people. So Saul did eat with Samuel that day.
25 When they had come down from the high place into the city, they prepared a bed for Saul on the roof,
And when they were come down from the high place into the city, Samuel communed with Saul on the top of the house.
26 and he slept. And it happened about daybreak that Samuel called to Saul on the roof, saying, "Get up, that I may send you away." So Saul arose, and they went out, both of them, he and Samuel, outside.
And they arose early: and it came to pass about the spring of the day, that Samuel called Saul to the top of the house, saying, Up, that I may send you away. And Saul arose, and they went out both of them, he and Samuel, abroad.
27 As they were going down at the edge of the city, Samuel said to Saul, "Tell the servant that he should pass on before us and cross over. But you remain here awhile, that I may make known to you the word of God."
And as they were going down to the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Bid the servant pass on before us, (and he passed on), but stand you still a while, that I may show you the word of God.

< 1 Samuel 9 >