¹⁴ but now your reign will not endure.^(A) The Lord has found a man after his own heart,^[a](B) and the Lord has appointed him as ruler over his people, because you have not done what the Lord commanded.”

Samuel Anoints David

16 The Lord said to Samuel, “How long are you going to mourn for Saul,^(A) since I have rejected him as king over Israel?^(B) Fill your horn with oil^(C) and go. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem^(D) because I have selected for myself a king from his sons.”

² Samuel asked, “How can I go? Saul will hear about it and kill me!”

The Lord answered, “Take a young cow with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’^{(E) 3} Then invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will let you know what you are to do.^(F) You are to anoint for me the one I indicate to you.”^(G)

⁴ Samuel did what the Lord directed and went to Bethlehem.^(H) When the elders of the town met him, they trembled^[a] and asked, “Do^[b] you come in peace?” ^(I)

⁵ “In peace,” he replied. “I’ve come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves^(J) and come with me to the sacrifice.”^[c] Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. ⁶ When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab^(K) and said, “Certainly the Lord’s anointed one is here before him.”

⁷ But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or his stature because I have rejected him. Humans do not see what the Lord sees,^[d] for humans see what is visible, but the Lord sees the heart.”^(L)

⁸ Jesse called Abinadab^(M) and presented him to Samuel. “The Lord hasn’t chosen this one either,” Samuel said. ⁹ Then Jesse presented Shammah,^(N) but Samuel said, “The Lord hasn’t chosen this one either.” ¹⁰ After Jesse presented seven of his sons to him, Samuel told Jesse, “The Lord hasn’t chosen any of these.” ¹¹ Samuel asked him, “Are these all the sons you have?”

“There is still the youngest,”^(O) he answered, “but right now he’s tending the sheep.” Samuel told Jesse, “Send for him. We won’t sit down to eat until he gets here.” ¹² So Jesse sent for him. He had beautiful eyes and a healthy,^[e] handsome appearance.^(P)

Then the Lord said, “Anoint him, for he is the one.”^{(Q) 13} So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him^(R) in the presence of his brothers, and the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully on David from that day forward.^(S) Then Samuel set out and went to Ramah.