1 Samuel 9

1Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah, the son of a Benjamite, a mighty man of valor.

1There was a man from the tribe of Benjamin named Kish. He was the son of Abiel, grandson of Zeror, great-grandson of Becorath, and great-great-grandson of Aphiah of Benjamin. Kish was an influential and wealthy man.

2And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a 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.

2He had a son named Saul, a handsome young man. No one in Israel was more handsome than he was, and he stood a head taller than everyone else.

3And 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.

3One day, the donkeys belonging to Saul’s father, Kish, got lost. Kish said to Saul, 'Take one of the servants with you and go look for the donkeys.'

4And he passed through the hill-country of Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalishah, but they found them not: then they passed through the land of Shaalim, and there they were not: and he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they found them not.

4They traveled through the hill country of Ephraim and the land of Shalishah, but they didn't find them. Then they went through the land of Shaalim, but the donkeys weren't there. They also went through the territory of Benjamin, but still found nothing.

5When 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 off caring for the asses, and be anxious for us.

5When they reached the district of Zuph, Saul said to his servant, 'Come on, let’s go back. My father will stop worrying about the donkeys and start worrying about us.'

6And he said unto him, Behold now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is a man that is held in honor; all that he saith cometh surely to pass: now let us go thither; peradventure he can tell us concerning our journey whereon we go.

6But the servant replied, 'Look, there is a man of God in this city who is highly respected. Everything he says always comes true. Let’s go there now; maybe he can tell us which way we should go.'

7Then 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?

7Saul said to his servant, 'If we go, what can we give the man? The food in our bags is gone, and we don't have a gift to bring to the man of God. What do we have?'

8And the servant answered Saul again, and said, Behold, I have in my hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver: that will I give to the man of God, to tell us our way.

8The servant answered Saul again, 'Look, I have a small piece of silver. I will give it to the man of God so he will tell us our way.'

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

9(In the past in Israel, if someone went to ask God for help, they would say, 'Come, let’s go to the seer.' People who are now called prophets were called seers back then.)

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

10Saul said to his servant, 'That’s a good idea! Let’s go.' So they went to the city where the man of God lived.

11As they went up the ascent to the city, they found young maidens going out to draw water, and said unto them, Is the seer here?

11As they were walking up the hill to the city, they met some young women coming out to draw water. They asked them, 'Is the seer here?'

12And they answered them, and said, He is; behold, he is before thee: make haste now, for he is come to-day into the city; for the people have a sacrifice to-day in the high place.

12'Yes,' the girls answered. 'He is just ahead of you. Hurry, because he just arrived in the city today for the people’s sacrifice at the outdoor place of worship.'

13As soon as ye are come into the city, ye shall straightway find him, before he goeth 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 are bidden. Now therefore get you up; for at this time ye shall find him.

13'As soon as you enter the city, you will find him before he goes up to the place of worship to eat. The people won't start eating until he arrives because he must bless the sacrifice. After that, the guests can eat. Go up now, and you should find him immediately.'

14And they went up to the city; and as they came within the city, behold, Samuel came out toward them, to go up to the high place.

14So they went up to the city. As they were entering the gateway, they saw Samuel coming toward them on his way up to the place of worship.

15Now Jehovah had revealed unto Samuel a day before Saul came, saying,

15Now, the day before Saul arrived, the LORD had told Samuel:

16To-morrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin, and thou shalt anoint him to be prince over my people Israel; and he shall 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'About this time tomorrow, I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. Anoint him as the leader of my people Israel. He will rescue them from the power of the Philistines. I have seen the suffering of my people and have heard their cry for help.'

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

17When Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said to him, 'This is the man I told you about. He is the one who will rule over my people.'

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

18Saul approached Samuel at the gateway and said, 'Please tell me, where is the seer’s house?'

19And 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 in the morning I will let thee go, and will tell thee all that is in thy heart.

19Samuel answered, 'I am the seer. Go up ahead of me to the place of worship, for you and your servant will eat with me today. In the morning, I will tell you everything you want to know and then send you on your way.'

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

20'And don't worry about the donkeys you lost three days ago; they have been found. Besides, who is it that all of Israel is looking for? Is it not you and your father’s family?'

21And 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 to me after this manner?

21Saul answered, 'But I am only from Benjamin, the smallest tribe in Israel, and my family is the least important of all the families in that tribe. Why are you saying these things to me?'

22And Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them into the guest-chamber, and made them sit in the chiefest place among them that were bidden, who were about thirty persons.

22Then Samuel took Saul and his servant into the hall and gave them the place of honor at the table. There were about thirty invited guests.

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

23Samuel said to the cook, 'Bring the choice piece of meat I gave you and told you to set aside.'

24And the cook took up the thigh, and that which was upon it, and set it before Saul. And Samuel said, Behold, that which hath been reserved! set it before thee and eat; because unto the appointed time hath it been kept for thee, for I said, I have invited the people. So Saul did eat with Samuel that day.

24The cook picked up the thigh with the meat that was on it and set it before Saul. Samuel said, 'This is the piece that was reserved for you. Eat it, because it was set aside for you for this special time when I invited these guests.' So Saul ate with Samuel that day.

25And when they were come down from the high place into the city, he communed with Saul upon the housetop.

25After they came down from the place of worship into the city, Samuel talked with Saul on the roof of his house.

26And they arose early: and it came to pass about the spring of the day, that Samuel called to Saul on the housetop, saying, Up, that I may send thee away. And Saul arose, and they went out both of them, he and Samuel, abroad.

26They got up early the next morning at dawn. Samuel called to Saul on the roof, 'Get ready, and I will send you on your way.' Saul got up, and both he and Samuel went out into the street together.

27As they were going down at the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Bid the servant pass on before us (and he passed on), but stand thou still first, that I may cause thee to hear the word of God.

27As they were reaching the edge of the city, Samuel said to Saul, 'Tell the servant to go on ahead of us.' The servant did so. Samuel continued, 'But you stay here for a moment, so that I may give you a message from God.'