1 Samuel 28 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.

Around that time, the Philistines gathered their armies for war against Israel. Achish said to David, "You understand, of course, that you and your men will be going out to battle with me."

David replied to Achish, "Then you'll see for yourself what your servant can do." Achish said to David, "Good -- I'll make you my permanent bodyguard."

Now Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, his hometown. And Saul had expelled the mediums and spiritists from the land.

The Philistines assembled and came and set up camp at Shunem. Saul gathered all of Israel and they set up camp at Gilboa.

When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was terrified -- his heart was pounding with fear.

Saul tried to ask Yahweh what to do, but Yahweh didn't answer him -- not through dreams, not through the Urim, not through prophets.

So Saul said to his officers, "Find me a woman who is a medium so I can go to her and ask her what to do." His officers told him, "There's a woman who is a medium at En-dor."

Saul disguised himself by putting on different clothes, and he went with two men at night. They came to the woman and he said, "Use your skills to contact the dead for me. Bring up the person I name for you."

But the woman said to him, "Look, you know what Saul has done -- how he cut off the mediums and spiritists from the land. Why are you setting a trap for me, to get me killed?"

Saul swore to her by Yahweh, "As surely as Yahweh lives, you won't be punished for this."

The woman asked, "Who should I bring up for you?" He said, "Bring up Samuel for me."

When the woman saw Samuel, she screamed and said to Saul, "Why did you lie to me? You're Saul!"

The king said to her, "Don't be afraid. What do you see?" The woman said to Saul, "I see a divine being coming up out of the ground."

He asked her, "What does he look like?" She said, "An old man is coming up, wearing a robe." Then Saul knew it was Samuel, and he bowed face-down to the ground in respect.

Samuel said to Saul, "Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?" Saul answered, "I'm in deep trouble. The Philistines are attacking me and God has turned away from me. He won't answer me anymore -- not through prophets, not through dreams. So I called on you to tell me what to do."

Samuel replied, "Then why are you asking me, since Yahweh has turned away from you and become your adversary?"

Yahweh has done exactly what he told you through me: Yahweh has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor -- to David.

Because you didn't obey Yahweh and didn't carry out his burning anger against Amalek, that is why Yahweh has done this to you today.

And Yahweh will also hand Israel over to the Philistines along with you. Tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. Yahweh will also hand Israel's army over to the Philistines.

Immediately Saul collapsed full-length on the ground, completely terrified by Samuel's words. He had no strength left because he hadn't eaten anything all day and all night.

The woman came over to Saul and saw that he was completely shaken. She said to him, "Look, your servant has listened to you. I put my life in my hands and did what you told me to do.

Now please, you listen to your servant too. Let me set some food in front of you. Eat, so you'll have the strength to get back on your way."

He refused and said, "I won't eat." But his officers and the woman pressed him, and he finally listened to them. He got up from the ground and sat on the bed.

The woman had a fattened calf at the house. She quickly slaughtered it, took flour, kneaded it, and baked unleavened bread.

She served it to Saul and his officers, and they ate. Then they got up and left that same night.