1 Samuel 16 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.

Yahweh said to Samuel, "How long are you going to grieve over Saul? I've rejected him as king over Israel. Fill your horn with oil and go — I'm sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem, because I've picked out a king for myself from among his sons."

Samuel said, "How can I go? If Saul hears about it, he'll kill me." Yahweh said, "Take a young cow with you and say, 'I've come to offer a sacrifice to Yahweh.'"

"Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I'll show you what to do. You'll anoint for me the one I point out to you."

Samuel did what Yahweh told him and went to Bethlehem. The town elders came out trembling to meet him and asked, "Do you come in peace?"

He said, "Yes, peace. I've come to offer a sacrifice to Yahweh. Set yourselves apart and come with me to the sacrifice." Then he set apart Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, "Surely Yahweh's anointed one is standing right here."

But Yahweh said to Samuel, "Don't look at his appearance or how tall he stands, because I've rejected him. Yahweh doesn't see the way humans see — people look at the outward appearance, but Yahweh looks at the heart."

Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him walk in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, "Yahweh hasn't chosen this one either."

Then Jesse had Shammah walk by. But Samuel said, "Yahweh hasn't chosen this one either."

Jesse had seven of his sons walk in front of Samuel. But Samuel told Jesse, "Yahweh hasn't chosen any of these."

Then Samuel asked Jesse, "Are these all the sons you have?" Jesse replied, "There's still the youngest — he's out watching the sheep." Samuel said to Jesse, "Send for him. We're not sitting down to eat until he gets here."

So Jesse sent for him and brought him in. He had a healthy reddish complexion, striking eyes, and was good-looking. Yahweh said, "Get up and anoint him — this is the one."

So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him right there among his brothers. And the Breath of Yahweh rushed onto David powerfully from that day forward. Then Samuel got up and went back to Ramah.

Now the Breath of Yahweh had left Saul, and a harmful spirit from Yahweh tormented him.

Saul's servants said to him, "Look, a harmful spirit from God is tormenting you."

"Let our master give the order, and your servants here will look for someone who's skilled at playing the lyre. When the harmful spirit from God comes on you, he'll play and you'll feel better."

Saul told his servants, "Find me someone who plays well and bring him to me."

One of the young servants spoke up: "I've seen a son of Jesse from Bethlehem who knows how to play. He's a brave and capable warrior, well-spoken, good-looking, and Yahweh is with him."

So Saul sent messengers to Jesse saying, "Send me your son David — the one who's with the sheep."

Jesse loaded up a donkey with bread, a skin of wine, and a young goat, and sent them with his son David to Saul.

David came to Saul and entered his service. Saul loved him deeply, and David became his armor-bearer.

Saul sent a message to Jesse: "Let David stay in my service — I'm very pleased with him."

Whenever the spirit from God came on Saul, David would pick up the lyre and play. Saul would find relief — he'd feel better, and the harmful spirit would leave him.