1 Now there was1961 a man376 of Benjamin,4480 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 mighty man1368 of power.2428

2 And he had1961 a son,1121 whose name8034 was Saul,7586 a choice young man,970 and a goodly:2896 and there was not369 among the children4480 1121 of Israel3478 a goodlier2896 person376 than4480 he: from his shoulders4480 7926 and upward4605 he was higher1364 than any4480 3605 of the people.5971

3 And the asses860 of Kish7027 Saul's7586 father1 were lost.6 And Kish7027 said559 to413 Saul7586 his son,1121 Take3947 now4994 853 one259 of the servants4480 5288 with854 thee, and arise,6965 go1980 seek1245 853 the asses.860

4 And he passed through5674 mount2022 Ephraim,669 and passed through5674 the land776 of Shalisha,8031 but they found4672 them not:3808 then they passed through5674 the land776 of Shalim,8171 and there they were not:369 and he passed through5674 the land776 of the Benjamites,1145 but they found4672 them not.3808

5 And when they1992 were come935 to the land776 of Zuph,6689 Saul7586 said559 to his servant5288 that834 was with5973 him, Come,1980 and let us return;7725 lest6435 my father1 leave2308 caring for4480 the asses,860 and take thought1672 for us.

6 And he said559 unto him, Behold2009 now,4994 there is in this2063 city5892 a man376 of God,430 and he is an honorable3513 man;376 all3605 that834 he saith1696 cometh surely to pass:935 935 now4994 let us go1980 thither;8033 peradventure194 he can show5046 us853 our way1870 that834 5921 we should go.1980

7 Then said559 Saul7586 to his servant,5288 But, behold,2009 if we go,1980 what4100 shall we bring935 the man?376 for3588 the bread3899 is spent235 in our vessels,4480 3627 and there is not369 a present8670 to bring935 to the man376 of God:430 what4100 have we?

8 And the servant5288 answered6030 853 Saul7586 again,3254 and said,559 Behold,2009 I have here4672 at hand3027 the fourth part7253 of a shekel8255 of silver:3701 that will I give5414 to the man376 of God,430 to tell5046 us853 our way.1870

9 (Formerly6440 in Israel,3478 when a man376 went1980 to inquire1875 of God,430 thus3541 he spoke,559 Come,1980 and let us go1980 to5704 the seer:7200 for3588 he that is now3117 called a Prophet5030 was formerly6440 called7121 a Seer.)7200

10 Then said559 Saul7586 to his servant,5288 Well2896 said;1697 come,1980 let us go.1980 So they went1980 unto413 the city5892 where834 8033 the man376 of God430 was.

11 And as they1992 went up5927 the hill4608 to the city,5892 they1992 found4672 young maidens5291 going out3318 to draw7579 water,4325 and said559 unto them, Is3426 the seer7200 here?2088

12 And they answered6030 them, and said,559 He is;3426 behold,2009 he is before6440 you: make haste4116 now,6258 for3588 he came935 today3117 to the city;5892 for3588 there is a sacrifice2077 of the people5971 today3117 in the high place: 1116

13 As soon as ye be come935 into the city,5892 ye shall straightway3651 find4672 him, before2962 he go up5927 to the high place1116 to eat:398 for3588 the people5971 will not3808 eat398 until5704 he come,935 because3588 he1931 doth bless1288 the sacrifice;2077 and afterwards310 3651 they eat398 that be bidden.7121 Now6258 therefore get you up;5927 for3588 about this time3117 ye shall find4672 him.

14 And they went up5927 into the city:5892 and when they1992 were come935 into8432 the city,5892 behold,2009 Samuel8050 came out3318 against7125 them, for to go up5927 to the high place.1116

15 Now the LORD3068 had told1540 Samuel8050 in854 his ear241 a259 day3117 before6440 Saul7586 came,935 saying,559

16 Tomorrow4279 about this time6256 I will send7971 thee a man376 out of the land4480 776 of Benjamin,1144 and thou shalt anoint4886 him to be captain5057 over5921 my people5971 Israel,3478 that he may save3467 853 my people5971 out of the hand4480 3027 of the Philistines:6430 for3588 I have looked upon7200 853 my people,5971 because3588 their cry6818 is come935 unto me.413

17 And when Samuel8050 saw7200 853 Saul,7586 the LORD3068 said6030 unto him, Behold2009 the man376 whom834 I spoke559 to413 thee of! this same2088 shall reign6113 over my people.5971

18 Then Saul7586 drew near5066 to853 Samuel8050 in8432 the gate,8179 and said,559 Tell5046 me, I pray thee,4994 where335 2088 the seer's7200 house1004 is.

19 And Samuel8050 answered6030 853 Saul,7586 and said,559 I595 am the seer:7200 go up5927 before6440 me unto the high place;1116 for ye shall eat398 with5973 me today,3117 and tomorrow1242 I will let thee go,7971 and will tell5046 thee all3605 that834 is in thine heart.3824

20 And as for thine asses860 that were lost6 three7969 days3117 ago,3117 set7760 not408 853 thy mind3820 on them; for3588 they are found.4672 And on whom4310 is all3605 the desire2532 of Israel?3478 Is it not3808 on thee, and on all3605 thy father's1 house?1004

21 And Saul7586 answered6030 and said,559 Am not3808 I595 a Benjamite,1145 of the smallest4480 6996 of the tribes7626 of Israel?3478 and my family4940 the least6810 of all4480 3605 the families4940 of the tribe7626 of Benjamin?1144 wherefore4100 then speakest1696 thou so1697 2088 to413 me?

22 And Samuel8050 took3947 853 Saul7586 and his servant,5288 and brought935 them into the parlor,3957 and made them sit5414 in the chiefest7218 place4725 among them that were bidden,7121 which1992 were about thirty7970 persons.376

23 And Samuel8050 said559 unto the cook,2876 Bring5414 853 the portion4490 which834 I gave5414 thee, of which834 I said559 unto413 thee, Set7760 it by5973 thee.

24 And the cook2876 took up7311 853 the shoulder,7785 and that which was upon5921 it, and set7760 it before6440 Saul.7586 And Samuel said,559 Behold2009 that which is left!7604 set7760 it before6440 thee, and eat:398 for3588 unto this time4150 hath it been kept8104 for thee since I said,559 I have invited7121 the people.5971 So Saul7586 did eat398 with5973 Samuel8050 that1931 day.3117

25 And when they were come down3381 from the high place4480 1116 into the city,5892 Samuel communed1696 with5973 Saul7586 upon5921 the top of the house.1406

26 And they arose early:7925 and it came to pass1961 about the spring5927 of the day,7837 that Samuel8050 called7121 413 Saul7586 to the top of the house,1406 saying,559 Up,6965 that I may send thee away.7971 And Saul7586 arose,6965 and they went out3318 both8147 of them, he1931 and Samuel,8050 abroad.2351

27 And as they1992 were going down3381 to the end7097 of the city,5892 Samuel8050 said559 to413 Saul,7586 Bid559 the servant5288 pass on5674 before6440 us, (and he passed on,)5674 but stand thou still5975 859 a while,3117 that I may show8085 thee853 the word1697 of God.430