1 Samuel, 28

1. And it came to pass in those days, that the Philistines gathered their armies together for warfare, to fight with Israel. And Achish said unto David, Know thou assuredly, that thou shalt go out with me to battle, thou and thy men.

1. In those days, the Philistines mustered their forces to fight against Israel, and Achish told David, "I want you to know that you and your men must join me to fight this battle."

2. And David said to Achish, Surely thou shalt know what thy servant can do. And Achish said to David, Therefore will I make thee keeper of mine head for ever.

2. David answered, "Then you will see for yourself what your servant can do." Achish said to David, "I will make you my permanent bodyguard."

3. Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and buried him in Ramah, even in his own city. And Saul had put away those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land.

3. Now Samuel had died and when all Israel had mourned for him, they buried him in his own city, Ramah. Meanwhile, Saul had driven those who consult spirits of the dead and fortunetellers out of the land.

4. And the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and pitched in Shunem: and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they pitched in Gilboa.

4. As the Philistines gathered together and encamped in Shunem, Saul also mustered the Israelite forces and encamped in Gilboa.

5. And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled.

5. But on seeing the Philistine camp, Saul was afraid and his heart failed him.

6. And when Saul enquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.

6. Saul consulted Yahweh but Yahweh gave no answer whether in dreams or by the Urim or through prophets.

7. Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, [there is] a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor.

7. Then Saul said to his servants, "Find me a woman who consults the spirits of the dead, that I may go and consult her." His servants told him, "There is a medium at Endor."

8. And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me [him] up, whom I shall name unto thee.

8. Saul disguised himself, putting on other clothes, and left with two men. He arrived at night and said to the woman: "Tell my fortune through a ghost and call the spirit I shall name."

9. And the woman said unto him, Behold, thou knowest what Saul hath done, how he hath cut off those that have familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land: wherefore then layest thou a snare for my life, to cause me to die?

9. But the woman answered him, "Do you not know that Saul has driven medium and fortunetellers out of the land? Why do you set a trap for me to bring about my death?"

10. And Saul sware to her by the LORD, saying, [As] the LORD liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing.

10. But Saul swore to her by Yahweh, "As Yahweh lives, you will not be in trouble for this."

11. Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto thee? And he said, Bring me up Samuel.

11. Then the woman asked him, "Whom do you want me to call up?" Saul said, "Call up Samuel."

12. And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice: and the woman spake to Saul, saying, Why hast thou deceived me? for thou [art] Saul.

12. When the woman saw Samuel, she screamed and said to Saul, "Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!"

13. And the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what sawest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth.

13. The king then told her, "Have no fear. What do you see?" The woman said, "I see him rising from the ground. He is a god."

14. And he said unto her, What form [is] he of? And she said, An old man cometh up; and he [is] covered with a mantle. And Saul perceived that it [was] Samuel, and he stooped with [his] face to the ground, and bowed himself.

14. Saul asked her, "What does he look like?" She replied, "The one rising is an old man clothed in a mantle." Saul knew that it was Samuel. He knelt and bowed face to the ground in homage.

15. And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up? And Saul answered, I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest make known unto me what I shall do.

15. Samuel spoke to Saul, "Why did you disturb me by summoning me up?" Saul answered, "I am in great distress, for the Philistines are waging war against me and God has abandoned me. He no longer answers me either through prophets or in dreams. Because of this I have called you to tell me what I should do."

16. Then said Samuel, Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing the LORD is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy?

16. Samuel said, "Why do you ask me, if Yahweh has abandoned you and turned against you?

17. And the LORD hath done to him, as he spake by me: for the LORD hath rent the kingdom out of thine hand, and given it to thy neighbour, [even] to David:

17. Yahweh has done to you what he foretold through me. He has torn the kingdom from your hand and has given it to your neighbor, David.

18. Because thou obeyedst not the voice of the LORD, nor executedst his fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore hath the LORD done this thing unto thee this day.

18. Remember that you disobeyed Yahweh by not executing his fierce anger against Amalek; that is why Yahweh has done this to you today.

19. Moreover the LORD will also deliver Israel with thee into the hand of the Philistines: and to morrow [shalt] thou and thy sons [be] with me: the LORD also shall deliver the host of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.

19. Now Yahweh will deliver Israel, together with you, into the hands of the Philistines. By tomorrow, you and your sons shall be with me when Yahweh delivers the army of Israel into the hands of the Philistines."

20. Then Saul fell straightway all along on the earth, and was sore afraid, because of the words of Samuel: and there was no strength in him; for he had eaten no bread all the day, nor all the night.

20. Immediately Saul fell full length on the ground, terrified by what Samuel said. He had no strength left because he had not eaten anything all that day and night.

21. And the woman came unto Saul, and saw that he was sore troubled, and said unto him, Behold, thine handmaid hath obeyed thy voice, and I have put my life in my hand, and have hearkened unto thy words which thou spakest unto me.

21. The woman drew close to Saul and, seeing how frightened he was, said to him, "Look, your maidservant has obeyed you and risked her life doing what you have asked her to do.

22. Now therefore, I pray thee, hearken thou also unto the voice of thine handmaid, and let me set a morsel of bread before thee; and eat, that thou mayest have strength, when thou goest on thy way.

22. Now it is your turn to listen to me. Let me give you something to eat so you may have strength when you go on your way."

23. But he refused, and said, I will not eat. But his servants, together with the woman, compelled him; and he hearkened unto their voice. So he arose from the earth, and sat upon the bed.

23. Saul refused and said, "I will not eat." But on the insistence of his servants and the woman, he agreed, rose from the ground and sat on the bed.

24. And the woman had a fat calf in the house; and she hasted, and killed it, and took flour, and kneaded [it], and did bake unleavened bread thereof:

24. The woman had a fattened calf in the house which she immediately butchered. She also took some flour, kneaded it and baked unleavened bread,

25. And she brought [it] before Saul, and before his servants; and they did eat. Then they rose up, and went away that night.

25. and set it before Saul and his servants. They then ate and left that night.