1Now there was a man376 of Benjamin1144, whose name8034 was Kish7027, the son1121 of Abiel22, the son1121 of Zeror6872, the son1121 of Bechorath1064, the son1121 of Aphiah647, a Benjamite1145, a mighty1368 man376 of power2428.
2And he had a son1121, whose name8034 was Saul7586, a choice young man970, and a goodly2896: and there was not among the children1121 of Israel3478 a goodlier2896 person376 than he: from his shoulders7926 and upward4605 he was higher1364 than any of the people5971.
3And the asses860 of Kish7027 Saul's7586 father1 were lost6. And Kish7027 said559 to Saul7586 his son1121, Take3947 now one259 of the servants5288 with thee, and arise6965, go3212 seek1245 the asses860.
4And he passed through5674 mount2022 Ephraim669, and passed through5674 the land776 of Shalisha8031, but they found4672 them not: then they passed through5674 the land776 of Shalim8171, and there they were not: and he passed through5674 the land776 of the Benjamites1145, but they found4672 them not.
5And when they were come935 to the land776 of Zuph6689, Saul7586 said559 to his servant5288 that was with him, Come3212, and let us return7725; lest my father1 leave2308 caring for the asses860, and take thought1672 for us.
6And he said559 unto him, Behold now, there is in this city5892 a man376 of God430, and he is an honourable3513 man376; all that he saith1696 cometh935 surely to pass935: now let us go3212 thither; peradventure he can shew5046 us our way1870 that we should go1980.
7Then said559 Saul7586 to his servant5288, But, behold, if we go3212, what shall we bring935 the man376? for the bread3899 is spent235 in our vessels3627, and there is not a present8670 to bring935 to the man376 of God430: what have we?
8And the servant5288 answered6030 Saul7586 again3254, and said559, Behold, I have4672 here at hand3027 the fourth part7253 of a shekel8255 of silver3701: that will I give5414 to the man376 of God430, to tell5046 us our way1870.
9(Beforetime6440 in Israel3478, when a man376 went3212 to enquire1875 of God430, thus he spake559, Come3212, and let us go3212 to the seer7200: for he that is now3117 called a Prophet5030 was beforetime6440 called7121 a Seer7200.)
10Then said1697 Saul7586 to his servant5288, Well2896 said559; come3212, let us go3212. So they went3212 unto the city5892 where the man376 of God430 was.
11And as they went up5927 the hill4608 to the city5892, they found4672 young maidens5291 going out3318 to draw7579 water4325, and said559 unto them, Is3426 the seer7200 here?
12And they answered6030 them, and said559, He is3426; behold, he is before6440 you: make haste4116 now, for he came935 to day3117 to the city5892; for there is a sacrifice2077 of the people5971 to day3117 in the high place1116:
13As soon as ye be come935 into the city5892, ye shall straightway3651 find4672 him, before he go up5927 to the high place1116 to eat398: for the people5971 will not eat398 until he come935, because he doth bless1288 the sacrifice2077; and afterwards310 3651 they eat398 that be bidden7121. Now therefore get you up5927; for about this time3117 ye shall find4672 him.
14And they went up5927 into8432 the city5892: and when they were come935 into the city5892, behold, Samuel8050 came out3318 against7125 them, for to go up5927 to the high place1116.
15Now the LORD3068 had told1540 Samuel8050 in his ear241 a259 day3117 before6440 Saul7586 came935, saying559,
16To morrow4279 about this time6256 I will send7971 thee a man376 out of the land776 of Benjamin1144, and thou shalt anoint4886 him to be captain5057 over my people5971 Israel3478, that he may save3467 my people5971 out of the hand3027 of the Philistines6430: for I have looked7200 upon my people5971, because their cry6818 is come935 unto me.
17And when Samuel8050 saw7200 Saul7586, the LORD3068 said6030 unto him, Behold the man376 whom I spake559 to thee of! this same shall reign6113 over my people5971.
18Then Saul7586 drew near5066 to Samuel8050 in8432 the gate8179, and said559, Tell5046 me, I pray thee, where335 the seer's7200 house1004 is.
19And Samuel8050 answered6030 Saul7586, and said559, I am the seer7200: go up5927 before6440 me unto the high place1116; for ye shall eat398 with me to day3117, and to morrow1242 I will let thee go7971, and will tell5046 thee all that is in thine heart3824.
20And as for thine asses860 that were lost6 three7969 days3117 ago3117, set7760 not thy mind3820 on them; for they are found4672. And on whom is all the desire2532 of Israel3478? Is it not on thee, and on all thy father's1 house1004?
21And Saul7586 answered6030 and said559, Am not I a Benjamite1145, of the smallest6996 of the tribes7626 of Israel3478? and my family4940 the least6810 of all the families4940 of the tribe7626 of Benjamin1144? wherefore then speakest1696 thou so1697 to me?
22And Samuel8050 took3947 Saul7586 and his servant5288, and brought935 them into the parlour3957, and made them sit5414 in the chiefest7218 place4725 among them that were bidden7121, which were about thirty7970 persons376.
23And Samuel8050 said559 unto the cook2876, Bring5414 the portion4490 which I gave5414 thee, of which I said559 unto thee, Set7760 it by thee.
24And the cook2876 took up7311 the shoulder7785, and that which was upon it, and set7760 it before6440 Saul7586. And Samuel said559, Behold that which is left7604! set7760 it before6440 thee, and eat398: for unto this time4150 hath it been kept8104 for thee since I said559, I have invited7121 the people5971. So Saul7586 did eat398 with Samuel8050 that day3117.
25And when they were come down3381 from the high place1116 into the city5892, Samuel communed1696 with Saul7586 upon the top of the house1406.
26And they arose early7925: and it came to pass about the spring5927 of the day7837, that Samuel8050 called7121 Saul7586 to the top of the house1406, saying559, Up6965, that I may send thee away7971. And Saul7586 arose6965, and they went out3318 both8147 of them, he and Samuel8050, abroad2351.
27And as they were going down3381 to the end7097 of the city5892, Samuel8050 said559 to Saul7586, Bid559 the servant5288 pass on5674 before6440 us, (and he passed on5674,) but stand5975 thou still a while3117, that I may shew8085 thee the word1697 of God430.