1 Now there was a man376 of Benjamin,1144 whose name8034 was Kish,7027 the son1121 of Abiel,22 the son1121 of Zeror,6872 the son1121 of Bechorath,1064 the son1121 of Aphiah,647 a Benjamite,1145 a mighty1368 man376 of power.2428

2 And he had1961 a son,1121 whose name8034 was Saul,7586 a choice970 young970 man, and a goodly:2896 and there was not among the children1121 of Israel3478 a goodlier2896 person376 than he: from his shoulders7926 and upward4605 he was higher1364 than any3605 of the people.5971

3 And the asses860 of Kish7027 Saul's7586 father1 were lost.6 And Kish7027 said559 to Saul7586 his son,1121 Take3947 now4994 one259 of the servants5650 with you, and arise,6965 go3212 seek1245 the asses.860

4 And he passed5674 through mount2022 Ephraim,669 and passed5674 through the land776 of Shalisha,8031 but they found4672 them not: then they passed5674 through the land776 of Shalim,8171 and there they were not: and he passed5674 through the land776 of the Benjamites,1145 but they found4672 them not.

5 And when they were come935 to the land776 of Zuph,6689 Saul7586 said559 to his servant5288 that was with him, Come,3212 and let us return;7725 lest6435 my father1 leave2308 caring for the asses,860 and take thought1672 for us.

6 And he said559 to him, Behold2009 now,4994 there is in this2063 city5892 a man376 of God,430 and he is an honorable3513 man;376 all3605 that he said1696 comes935 surely to pass: now6258 let us go3212 thither;8033 peradventure194 he can show5046 us our way1870 that we should go.1980

7 Then said559 Saul7586 to his servant,5288 But, behold,2009 if we go,3212 what4100 shall we bring935 the man?376 for the bread3899 is spent235 in our vessels,3627 and there is not a present8670 to bring935 to the man376 of God:430 what4100 have we?

8 And the servant5288 answered6030 Saul7586 again,3254 and said,559 Behold,2009 I have4672 here at hand3027 the fourth7253 part of a shekel8255 of silver:3701 that will I give5414 to the man376 of God,430 to tell5046 us our way.1870

9 (Beforetime6440 in Israel,3478 when a man376 went3212 to inquire1875 of God,430 thus3541 he spoke,559 Come,3212 and let us go3212 to the seer:7200 for he that is now3117 called a Prophet5030 was beforetime6440 called7121 a Seer.7200)

10 Then said559 Saul7586 to his servant,5288 Well2896 said;1697 come,3212 let us go.3212 So they went3212 to the city5892 where834 8033 the man376 of God430 was.

11 And as they went5927 up the hill4608 to the city,5892 they found4672 young5291 maidens5291 going3318 out to draw7579 water,4325 and said559 to them, Is the seer7200 here?2088

12 And they answered6030 them, and said,559 He is; behold,2009 he is before6440 you: make haste4116 now,6258 for he came935 to day3117 to the city;5892 for there is a sacrifice2077 of the people5971 to day3117 in the high1116 place:

13 As soon as you be come935 into the city,5892 you shall straightway3651 find4672 him, before2962 he go5927 up to the high1116 place to eat:398 for the people5971 will not eat398 until5704 he come,935 because3588 he does bless1288 the sacrifice;2077 and afterwards310 3651 they eat398 that be bidden.7121 Now6258 therefore get5927 you up; for about this time3117 you shall find4672 him.

14 And they went5927 up into8432 the city:5892 and when they were come935 into the city,5892 behold,2009 Samuel8050 came3318 out against7125 them, for to go5927 up to the high1116 place.

15 Now the LORD3068 had told1540 Samuel8050 in his ear241 a day3117 before6440 Saul7586 came,935 saying,559

16 To morrow4279 about this time6256 I will send7971 you a man376 out of the land776 of Benjamin,1144 and you shall anoint4886 him to be captain5057 over5921 my people5971 Israel,3478 that he may save3467 my people5971 out of the hand3027 of the Philistines:6430 for I have looked7200 on my people,5971 because3588 their cry6818 is come935 to me.

17 And when Samuel8050 saw7200 Saul,7586 the LORD3068 said6030 to him, Behold2009 the man376 whom834 I spoke559 to you of! this2088 same2088 shall reign6113 over my people.5971

18 Then Saul7586 drew near5066 to Samuel8050 in the gate,8179 and said,559 Tell5046 me, I pray4994 you, where335 2088 the seer's7200 house1004 is.

19 And Samuel8050 answered6030 Saul,7586 and said,559 I am the seer:7200 go5927 up before6440 me to the high1116 place; for you shall eat398 with me to day,3117 and to morrow1242 I will let you go,7971 and will tell5046 you all3605 that is in your heart.3824

20 And as for your asses860 that were lost6 three7969 days3117 ago,3117 set7760 not your mind3820 on them; for they are found.4672 And on whom4310 is all3605 the desire2532 of Israel?3478 Is it not on you, and on all3605 your father's1 house?1004

21 And Saul7586 answered6030 and said,559 Am not I a Benjamite,1145 of the smallest6996 of the tribes7626 of Israel?3478 and my family4940 the least6810 of all3605 the families4940 of the tribe7626 of Benjamin?1144 why4100 then speak1696 you so1697 to me?

22 And Samuel8050 took3947 Saul7586 and his servant,5288 and brought935 them into the parlor,3957 and made5414 them sit5414 in the most chief7218 place4725 among them that were bidden,7121 which were about thirty7970 persons.376

23 And Samuel8050 said559 to the cook,2876 Bring5414 the portion4490 which834 I gave5414 you, of which834 I said559 to you, Set7760 it by you.

24 And the cook2876 took7311 up the shoulder,7785 and that which was on it, and set7760 it before6440 Saul.7586 And Samuel said,559 Behold2009 that which is left!7604 set7760 it before6440 you, and eat:398 for to this time4150 has it been kept8104 for you since I said,559 I have invited7121 the people.5971 So Saul7586 did eat398 with Samuel8050 that day.3117

25 And when they were come3381 down3381 from the high1116 place into the city,5892 Samuel communed1696 with Saul7586 on the top1406 of the house.

26 And they arose7925 early:7925 and it came1961 to pass about the spring5927 of the day,7837 that Samuel8050 called7121 Saul7586 to the top1406 of the house, saying,559 Up, that I may send7971 you away. And Saul7586 arose,6965 and they went3318 out both8147 of them, he and Samuel,8050 abroad.2351

27 And as they were going3381 down3381 to the end7097 of the city,5892 Samuel8050 said559 to Saul,7586 Bid559 the servant5288 pass5674 on before6440 us, (and he passed5674 on), but stand5975 you still a while,3117 that I may show8085 you the word1697 of God.430