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 Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power.

1. There was a man from the tribe of Benjamin whose name was Kish. He was the son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son of Aphiah, a valiant Benjaminite.

2. 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.

2. Kish had a son named Saul, a handsome young man who had no equal among the Israelites, for he was a head taller than any of them.

3. And the asses of Kish Saul's father were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son, Take now one of the servants with thee, and arise, go seek the asses.

3. It happened that the asses of Kish were lost. So he said to his son Saul, "Take one of the boys with you and go look for the asses."

4. 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.

4. They went all over the hill country of Ephraim and the land of Shalishah but did not find them. They passed through the land of Shaalim and the land of Benjamin, but the asses were nowhere to be found.

5. [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.

5. When they reached the land of Zuph, Saul said to his boy, "Let us go back, lest my father be more worried about us than about the asses."

6. And he said unto him, Behold now, [there is] in this city a man of God, and [he is] an honourable man; all that he saith cometh surely to pass: now let us go thither; peradventure he can shew us our way that we should go.

6. But his servant said to him, "Look, there is a man of God in this city. He is a highly respected man. All that he says comes true. Let us see him for he may be able to help us find what we are looking for."

7. 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?

7. Saul replied, "But if we go, what can we bring him? We have no more bread in our sacks and we have no present to bring to the man of God. What do we have?"

8. 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.

8. The servant answered, "I still have with me a quarter silver coin. I will give it to the man of God to tell us our way."

9. (Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to enquire of God, thus he spake, Come, and let us go to the seer: for [he that is] now [called] a Prophet was beforetime called a Seer.)

9. (Formerly, people in Israel who went to consult God, would say, "Come, let us go to the seer," for they did not speak of prophets, but of seers.)

10. Then said Saul to his servant, Well said; come, let us go. So they went unto the city where the man of God [was].

10. And Saul said to his boy, "Well said! Come, let us go." So they went to the city where the man of God was.

11. [And] as they went up the hill to the city, they found young maidens going out to draw water, and said unto them, Is the seer here?

11. As they went up the hill to the city, they met young girls coming out to draw water and asked them, "Is the seer here?"

12. 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:

12. The maidens answered, "The seer is straight ahead. He has just arrived because they have a sacrifice today on the high place.

13. As soon as ye be come into the city, ye 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 doth bless the sacrifice; [and] afterwards they eat that be bidden. Now therefore get you up; for about this time ye shall find him.

13. As soon as you enter the city, you shall find him before he goes up to the high place to eat. The people will not eat until he comes because he must first bless the sacrifice, and then those who are invited may eat. Now go up; you will meet him immediately."

14. 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.

14. So they went up to the city and entered it, and saw Samuel coming out towards them on his way up to the high place.

15. Now the LORD had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying,

15. The day before Saul came, Yahweh had already disclosed this to Samuel,

16. To morrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin, and thou shalt 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 upon my people, because their cry is come unto me.

16. "Tomorrow, about this time, I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin and you shall anoint him to rule over my people Israel. He shall save my people from the hand of the Philistines for I have seen the affliction of my people and their cry has come to me."

17. And when Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said unto him, Behold the man whom I spake to thee of! this same shall reign over my people.

17. So, when Samuel saw Saul, Yahweh told him, "Here is the man I spoke to you about! He shall rule over my people."

18. Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, where the seer's house [is].

18. Saul approached Samuel in the gateway and said, "Tell me, where is the house of the seer?"

19. And Samuel answered Saul, and said, I [am] the seer: go up before me unto the high place; for ye shall eat with me to day, and to morrow I will let thee go, and will tell thee all that [is] in thine heart.

19. Samuel answered Saul, "I am the seer. Go up ahead of me to the high place, for today you shall eat with me. In the morning, before you leave, I will tell you all that is in your heart.

20. And as for thine asses that were lost three days ago, set not thy mind on them; for they are found. And on whom [is] all the desire of Israel? [Is it] not on thee, and on all thy father's house?

20. As for your asses that were lost three days ago, do not worry about them for they have been found." Samuel added, "For whom is the first place in Israel? Isn't it for you and for all your father's kin?"

21. 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? wherefore then speakest thou so to me?

21. Saul answered, "I am a Benjaminite, from the least of the tribes of Israel, and my family is the lowliest of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin. Why do you speak to me in this way?"

22. And Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them into the parlour, and made them sit in the chiefest place among them that were bidden, which [were] about thirty persons.

22. Samuel took Saul and his boy, brought them into the hall and gave them a place at the head of the table, before some thirty guests.

23. And Samuel said unto the cook, Bring the portion which I gave thee, of which I said unto thee, Set it by thee.

23. Then Samuel told the cook, "Bring in the portion which I asked you to put aside."

24. And the cook took up the shoulder, and [that] which [was] upon it, and set [it] before Saul. And [Samuel] said, Behold that which is left! set [it] before thee, [and] eat: for unto this time hath it been kept for thee since I said, I have invited the people. So Saul did eat with Samuel that day.

24. The cook brought in the leg with the tail portion and set it before Saul, saying to him, "This has been set aside for you. Please eat." So Saul ate with Samuel that day.

25. And when they were come down from the high place into the city, [Samuel] communed with Saul upon the top of the house.

25. Then they went down from the high place and entered the city. On the terrace they prepared a bed for Saul where he lay down to sleep.

26. 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 thee away. And Saul arose, and they went out both of them, he and Samuel, abroad.

26. Early the next morning, Samuel called to Saul, "Get up, for I must send you on your way." Saul got up and began to walk down the street with Samuel.

27. [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 thou still a while, that I may shew thee the word of God.

27. As they were going down to the outskirts of the city, Samuel said to Saul, "Tell your servant to walk ahead. You stay here for a while and I shall give you a message from God."