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And the LORDsaid unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel?fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons.
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And Samuelsaid, How can I go? if Saulhear it, he will kill me. And the LORDsaid, Take an heifer with thee, and say, I am come to sacrifice to the LORD.
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And callJesse to the sacrifice, and I will shew thee what thou shalt do: and thou shalt anoint unto me him whom I name unto thee.
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And Samueldid that which the LORDspake, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the towntrembled at his coming, and said, Comest thou peaceably?
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And he said, Peaceably: I am come to sacrifice unto the LORD: sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctifiedJesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice.
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And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD'S anointed is before him.
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But the LORDsaid unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORDseeth not as manseeth; for manlooketh on the outward appearance, but the LORDlooketh on the heart.
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Then JessecalledAbinadab, and made him passbeforeSamuel. And he said, Neither hath the LORDchosen this.
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Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither hath the LORDchosen this.
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Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to passbeforeSamuel. And Samuelsaid unto Jesse, The LORD hath not chosen these.
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And Samuelsaid unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuelsaid unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he comehither.
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And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautifulcountenance, and goodlyto look to. And the LORDsaid, Arise, anoint him: for this is he.
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Then Samueltook the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORDcame upon David from that dayforward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.
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But the Spirit of the LORDdeparted from Saul, and an evilspirit from the LORDtroubled him.
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And Saul's servantssaid unto him, Behold now, an evilspirit from Godtroubleth thee.
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Let our lord now command thy servants, which are before thee, to seek out a man, who is a cunningplayer on an harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evilspirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well.
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And Saulsaid unto his servants, Provide me now a man that can playwell, and bring him to me.
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Then answeredone of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comelyperson, and the LORD is with him.
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Wherefore Saulsentmessengers unto Jesse, and said, Send me David thy son, which is with the sheep.
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And Jessetook an ass laden with bread, and abottle of wine, and akid, and sent them byDavid his son unto Saul.
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And Davidcame to Saul, and stoodbefore him: and he loved him greatly; and he became his armourbearer.
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And Saulsent to Jesse, saying, Let David, I pray thee, standbefore me; for he hath foundfavour in my sight.
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And it came to pass, when the evilspirit from God was upon Saul, that Davidtook an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evilspiritdeparted from him.