1. The LORD said to Samuel, "How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite; for I have provided a king for myself among his sons."

2. Samuel said, "How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me."The LORD said, "Take a heifer with you, and say, I have come to sacrifice to The LORD.

3. Call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do. You shall anoint to me him whom I name to you."

4. Samuel did that which the LORD spoke, and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling, and said, "Do you come peaceably?"

5. He said, "Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to The LORD. Sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice." He sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice.

6. When they had come, he looked at Eliab, and said, "Surely The LORD's anointed is before him."

7. But the LORD said to Samuel, "Don't look on his face, or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for I don't see as man sees. For man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

8. Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. He said, "The LORD has not chosen this one, either."

9. Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. He said, "The LORD has not chosen this one, either."

10. Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. Samuel said to Jesse, "The LORD has not chosen these."

11. Samuel said to Jesse, "Are all your children here?"He said, "There remains yet the youngest. Behold, he is keeping the sheep."Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and get him, for we will not sit down until he comes here."

12. He sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with a handsome face and good appearance. the LORD said, "Arise! Anoint him, for this is he."

13. Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the middle of his brothers. Then The LORD's Spirit came mightily on DAVID from that day forward. So Samuel rose up and went to Ramah.

19. Then you spoke in vision to your saints,and said, "I have given strength to the warrior.I have exalted a young man from the people.

20. I have found DAVID, my servant.I have anointed him with my holy oil,

21. with whom my hand shall be established.My arm will also strengthen him.

22. No enemy will tax him.No wicked man will oppress him.

23. I will beat down his adversaries before him,and strike those who hate him.

24. But my faithfulness and my loving kindness will be with him.In my name, his horn will be exalted.

25. I will set his hand also on the sea,and his right hand on the rivers.

26. He will call to me, 'You are my Father,my God, and the rock of my salvation!'

27. I will also appoint him my firstborn,the highest of the kings of the earth.

28. I will keep my loving kindness for him forever more.My covenant will stand firm with him.

29. I will also make his offspring endure forever,and his throne as the days of heaven.

30. If his children forsake my law,and don't walk in my ordinances;

31. if they break my statutes,and don't keep my commandments;

32. then I will punish their sin with the rod,and their iniquity with stripes.

33. But I will not completely take my loving kindness from him,nor allow my faithfulness to fail.

34. I will not break my covenant,nor alter what my lips have uttered.

35. Once I have sworn by my holiness,I will not lie to DAVID.

36. His offspring will endure forever,his throne like the sun before me.

37. It will be established forever like the moon,the faithful witness in the sky."Selah.