[1Sa 9:1-27 KJV] 1 Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name [was] Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power. 2 And he had a son, whose name [was] Saul, a choice 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. 3 And 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. 4 And he passed through mount Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalisha, but they found [them] not: then they passed through the land of Shalim, and [there they were] not: and he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they found [them] not. 5 [And] when 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 [caring] for the asses, and take thought for us. 6 And he said unto him, Behold now, [there is] in this city a man of God, and [he is] an honourable man; all that he saith cometh surely to pass: now let us go thither; peradventure he can shew us our way that we should go. 7 Then 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? 8 And the servant answered Saul again, and said, Behold, I have here at hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver: [that] will I give to the man of God, to tell us our way. 9 (Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to enquire of God, thus he spake, Come, and let us go to the seer: for [he that is] now [called] a Prophet was beforetime called a Seer.) 10 Then said Saul to his servant, Well said; come, let us go. So they went unto the city where the man of God [was]. 11 [And] as they went up the hill to the city, they found young maidens going out to draw water, and said unto them, Is the seer here? 12 And they answered them, and said, He is; behold, [he is] before you: make haste now, for he came to day to the city; for [there is] a sacrifice of the people to day in the high place: 13 As soon as ye be come into the city, ye shall straightway find him, before he go 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 be bidden. Now therefore get you up; for about this time ye shall find him. 14 And they went up into the city: [and] when they were come into the city, behold, Samuel came out against them, for to go up to the high place. 15 Now the LORD had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying, 16 To morrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin, and thou shalt anoint him [to be] captain over my people Israel, that he may save my people out of the hand of the Philistines: for I have looked upon my people, because their cry is come unto me. 17 And when Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said unto him, Behold the man whom I spake to thee of! this same shall reign over my people. 18 Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, where the seer's house [is]. 19 And 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 to morrow I will let thee go, and will tell thee all that [is] in thine heart. 20 And as for thine asses that were lost three days ago, set not thy mind on them; for they are found. And on whom [is] all the desire of Israel? [Is it] not on thee, and on all thy father's house? 21 And 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 so to me? 22 And Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them into the parlour, and made them sit in the chiefest place among them that were bidden, which [were] about thirty persons. 23 And Samuel said unto the cook, Bring the portion which I gave thee, of which I said unto thee, Set it by thee. 24 And the cook took up the shoulder, and [that] which [was] upon it, and set [it] before Saul. And [Samuel] said, Behold that which is left! set [it] before thee, [and] eat: for unto this time hath it been kept for thee since I said, I have invited the people. So Saul did eat with Samuel that day. 25 And when they were come down from the high place into the city, [Samuel] communed with Saul upon the top of the house. 26 And they arose early: and it came to pass about the spring of the day, that Samuel called Saul to the top of the house, saying, Up, that I may send thee away. And Saul arose, and they went out both of them, he and Samuel, abroad. 27 [And] as they were going down to the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Bid the servant pass on before us, (and he passed on,) but stand thou still a while, that I may shew thee the word of God.
[1Sa 10:1-27 KJV] 1 Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured [it] upon his head, and kissed him, and said, [Is it] not because the LORD hath anointed thee [to be] captain over his inheritance? 2 When thou art departed from me to day, then thou shalt find two men by Rachel's sepulchre in the border of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will say unto thee, The asses which thou wentest to seek are found: and, lo, thy father hath left the care of the asses, and sorroweth for you, saying, What shall I do for my son? 3 Then shalt thou go on forward from thence, and thou shalt come to the plain of Tabor, and there shall meet thee three men going up to God to Bethel, one carrying three kids, and another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a bottle of wine: 4 And they will salute thee, and give thee two [loaves] of bread; which thou shalt receive of their hands. 5 After that thou shalt come to the hill of God, where [is] the garrison of the Philistines: and it shall come to pass, when thou art come thither to the city, that thou shalt meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp, before them; and they shall prophesy: 6 And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man. 7 And let it be, when these signs are come unto thee, [that] thou do as occasion serve thee; for God [is] with thee. 8 And thou shalt go down before me to Gilgal; and, behold, I will come down unto thee, to offer burnt offerings, [and] to sacrifice sacrifices of peace offerings: seven days shalt thou tarry, till I come to thee, and shew thee what thou shalt do. 9 And it was [so], that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart: and all those signs came to pass that day. 10 And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them. 11 And it came to pass, when all that knew him beforetime saw that, behold, he prophesied among the prophets, then the people said one to another, What [is] this [that] is come unto the son of Kish? [Is] Saul also among the prophets? 12 And one of the same place answered and said, But who [is] their father? Therefore it became a proverb, [Is] Saul also among the prophets? 13 And when he had made an end of prophesying, he came to the high place. 14 And Saul's uncle said unto him and to his servant, Whither went ye? And he said, To seek the asses: and when we saw that [they were] no where, we came to Samuel. 15 And Saul's uncle said, Tell me, I pray thee, what Samuel said unto you. 16 And Saul said unto his uncle, He told us plainly that the asses were found. But of the matter of the kingdom, whereof Samuel spake, he told him not. 17 And Samuel called the people together unto the LORD to Mizpeh; 18 And said unto the children of Israel, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all kingdoms, [and] of them that oppressed you: 19 And ye have this day rejected your God, who himself saved you out of all your adversities and your tribulations; and ye have said unto him, [Nay], but set a king over us. Now therefore present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes, and by your thousands. 20 And when Samuel had caused all the tribes of Israel to come near, the tribe of Benjamin was taken. 21 When he had caused the tribe of Benjamin to come near by their families, the family of Matri was taken, and Saul the son of Kish was taken: and when they sought him, he could not be found. 22 Therefore they enquired of the LORD further, if the man should yet come thither. And the LORD answered, Behold, he hath hid himself among the stuff. 23 And they ran and fetched him thence: and when he stood among the people, he was higher than any of the people from his shoulders and upward. 24 And Samuel said to all the people, See ye him whom the LORD hath chosen, that [there is] none like him among all the people? And all the people shouted, and said, God save the king. 25 Then Samuel told the people the manner of the kingdom, and wrote [it] in a book, and laid [it] up before the LORD. And Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house. 26 And Saul also went home to Gibeah; and there went with him a band of men, whose hearts God had touched. 27 But the children of Belial said, How shall this man save us? And they despised him, and brought him no presents. But he held his peace.
[1Sa 11:1-15 KJV] 1 Then Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against Jabeshgilead: and all the men of Jabesh said unto Nahash, Make a covenant with us, and we will serve thee. 2 And Nahash the Ammonite answered them, On this [condition] will I make [a covenant] with you, that I may thrust out all your right eyes, and lay it [for] a reproach upon all Israel. 3 And the elders of Jabesh said unto him, Give us seven days' respite, that we may send messengers unto all the coasts of Israel: and then, if [there be] no man to save us, we will come out to thee. 4 Then came the messengers to Gibeah of Saul, and told the tidings in the ears of the people: and all the people lifted up their voices, and wept. 5 And, behold, Saul came after the herd out of the field; and Saul said, What [aileth] the people that they weep? And they told him the tidings of the men of Jabesh. 6 And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly. 7 And he took a yoke of oxen, and hewed them in pieces, and sent [them] throughout all the coasts of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, Whosoever cometh not forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done unto his oxen. And the fear of the LORD fell on the people, and they came out with one consent. 8 And when he numbered them in Bezek, the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand. 9 And they said unto the messengers that came, Thus shall ye say unto the men of Jabeshgilead, To morrow, by [that time] the sun be hot, ye shall have help. And the messengers came and shewed [it] to the men of Jabesh; and they were glad. 10 Therefore the men of Jabesh said, To morrow we will come out unto you, and ye shall do with us all that seemeth good unto you. 11 And it was [so] on the morrow, that Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the host in the morning watch, and slew the Ammonites until the heat of the day: and it came to pass, that they which remained were scattered, so that two of them were not left together. 12 And the people said unto Samuel, Who [is] he that said, Shall Saul reign over us? bring the men, that we may put them to death. 13 And Saul said, There shall not a man be put to death this day: for to day the LORD hath wrought salvation in Israel. 14 Then said Samuel to the people, Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there. 15 And all the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul king before the LORD in Gilgal; and there they sacrificed sacrifices of peace offerings before the LORD; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.
[1Sa 12:1-25 KJV] 1 And Samuel said unto all Israel, Behold, I have hearkened unto your voice in all that ye said unto me, and have made a king over you. 2 And now, behold, the king walketh before you: and I am old and grayheaded; and, behold, my sons [are] with you: and I have walked before you from my childhood unto this day. 3 Behold, here I [am]: witness against me before the LORD, and before his anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or of whose hand have I received [any] bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it you. 4 And they said, Thou hast not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither hast thou taken ought of any man's hand. 5 And he said unto them, The LORD [is] witness against you, and his anointed [is] witness this day, that ye have not found ought in my hand. And they answered, [He is] witness. 6 And Samuel said unto the people, [It is] the LORD that advanced Moses and Aaron, and that brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt. 7 Now therefore stand still, that I may reason with you before the LORD of all the righteous acts of the LORD, which he did to you and to your fathers. 8 When Jacob was come into Egypt, and your fathers cried unto the LORD, then the LORD sent Moses and Aaron, which brought forth your fathers out of Egypt, and made them dwell in this place. 9 And when they forgat the LORD their God, he sold them into the hand of Sisera, captain of the host of Hazor, and into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab, and they fought against them. 10 And they cried unto the LORD, and said, We have sinned, because we have forsaken the LORD, and have served Baalim and Ashtaroth: but now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, and we will serve thee. 11 And the LORD sent Jerubbaal, and Bedan, and Jephthah, and Samuel, and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side, and ye dwelled safe. 12 And when ye saw that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon came against you, ye said unto me, Nay; but a king shall reign over us: when the LORD your God [was] your king. 13 Now therefore behold the king whom ye have chosen, [and] whom ye have desired! and, behold, the LORD hath set a king over you. 14 If ye will fear the LORD, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall both ye and also the king that reigneth over you continue following the LORD your God: 15 But if ye will not obey the voice of the LORD, but rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall the hand of the LORD be against you, as [it was] against your fathers. 16 Now therefore stand and see this great thing, which the LORD will do before your eyes. 17 [Is it] not wheat harvest to day? I will call unto the LORD, and he shall send thunder and rain; that ye may perceive and see that your wickedness [is] great, which ye have done in the sight of the LORD, in asking you a king. 18 So Samuel called unto the LORD; and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day: and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel. 19 And all the people said unto Samuel, Pray for thy servants unto the LORD thy God, that we die not: for we have added unto all our sins [this] evil, to ask us a king. 20 And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not: ye have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart; 21 And turn ye not aside: for [then should ye go] after vain [things], which cannot profit nor deliver; for they [are] vain. 22 For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name's sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people. 23 Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way: 24 Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great [things] he hath done for you. 25 But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both ye and your king.
1Sa 9:2 - And he had a son,H1121 whose nameH8034was Saul,H7586 a choice young man,H970 and a goodly:H2896 and there was not among the childrenH1121 of IsraelH3478 a goodlierH2896 personH376 than he: from his shouldersH7926 and upwardH4605he was higherH1364 than any of the people.H5971
1Sa 9:4 - And he passed throughH5674 mountH2022 Ephraim,H669 and passed throughH5674 the landH776 of Shalisha,H8031 but they foundH4672them not: then they passed throughH5674 the landH776 of Shalim,H8171 and there they were not: and he passed throughH5674 the landH776 of the Benjamites,H1145 but they foundH4672them not.
1Sa 9:5 - And when they were comeH935 to the landH776 of Zuph,H6689 SaulH7586 saidH559 to his servantH5288 that was with him, Come,H3212 and let us return;H7725 lest my fatherH1 leaveH2308caring for the asses,H860 and take thoughtH1672 for us.
1Sa 9:6 - And he saidH559 unto him, Behold now, there is in this cityH5892 a manH376 of God,H430 and he is an honourableH3513 man;H376 all that he saithH1696 comethH935 surely to pass:H935 now let us goH3212 thither; peradventure he can shewH5046 us our wayH1870 that we should go.H1980
1Sa 9:13 - As soon as ye be comeH935 into the city,H5892 ye shall straightwayH3651 findH4672 him, before he go upH5927 to the high placeH1116 to eat:H398 for the peopleH5971 will not eatH398 until he come,H935 because he doth blessH1288 the sacrifice;H2077and afterwardsH310H3651 they eatH398 that be bidden.H7121 Now therefore get you up;H5927 for about this timeH3117 ye shall findH4672 him.
1Sa 9:20 - And as for thine assesH860 that were lostH6 threeH7969 daysH3117 ago,H3117 setH7760 not thy mindH3820 on them; for they are found.H4672 And on whom is all the desireH2532 of Israel?H3478Is it not on thee, and on all thy father'sH1 house?H1004
1Sa 9:25 - And when they were come downH3381 from the high placeH1116 into the city,H5892Samuel communedH1696 with SaulH7586 upon the top of the house.H1406
1Sa 10:5 - AfterH310 that thou shalt comeH935 to the hillH1389 of God,H430 where is the garrisonH5333 of the Philistines:H6430 and it shall come to pass, when thou art come thitherH935 to the city,H5892 that thou shalt meetH6293 a companyH2256 of prophetsH5030 coming downH3381 from the high placeH1116 with a psaltery,H5035 and a tabret,H8596 and a pipe,H2485 and a harp,H3658 beforeH6440 them; and they shall prophesy:H5012
1Sa 10:6 - And the SpiritH7307 of the LORDH3068 will comeH6743 upon thee, and thou shalt prophesyH5012 with them, and shalt be turnedH2015 into anotherH312 man.H376
1Sa 10:12 - And oneH376 of the same place answeredH6030 and said,H559 But who is their father?H1 Therefore it became a proverb,H4912Is SaulH7586 also among the prophets?H5030
1Sa 10:19 - And ye have this dayH3117 rejectedH3988 your God,H430 who himself savedH3467 you out of all your adversitiesH7451 and your tribulations;H6869 and ye have saidH559 unto him, Nay, but setH7760 a kingH4428 over us. Now therefore presentH3320 yourselves beforeH6440 the LORDH3068 by your tribes,H7626 and by your thousands.H505
1Sa 10:27 - But the childrenH1121 of BelialH1100 said,H559 How shall this man saveH3467 us? And they despisedH959 him, and broughtH935 him no presents.H4503 But he held his peace.H2790
1Sa 12:3 - Behold, here I am: witnessH6030 against me before the LORD,H3068 and before his anointed:H4899 whose oxH7794 have I taken?H3947 or whose assH2543 have I taken?H3947 or whom have I defrauded?H6231 whom have I oppressed?H7533 or of whose handH3027 have I received any bribeH3724 to blindH5956 mine eyesH5869 therewith? and I will restoreH7725 it you.
1Sa 12:7 - Now therefore stand still,H3320 that I may reasonH8199 with you beforeH6440 the LORDH3068 of all the righteous actsH6666 of the LORD,H3068 which he didH6213 to you and to your fathers.H1
1Sa 12:13 - Now therefore behold the kingH4428 whom ye have chosen,H977and whom ye have desired!H7592 and, behold, the LORDH3068 hath setH5414 a kingH4428 over you.
1Sa 12:15 - But if ye will not obeyH8085 the voiceH6963 of the LORD,H3068 but rebelH4784 against the commandmentH6310 of the LORD,H3068 then shall the handH3027 of the LORDH3068 be against you, as it was against your fathers.H1
1Sa 12:21 - And turn ye not aside:H5493 for then should ye go afterH310 vainH8414things, which cannot profitH3276 nor deliver;H5337 for they are vain.H8414
Recognizing the value of consistent reflection upon the Word of God in order to refocus one's mind and heart upon Christ and His Gospel of peace, we provide several reading plans designed to cover the entire Bible in a year.
The Blue Letter Bible ministry and the BLB Institute hold to the historical,
conservative Christian faith, which includes a firm belief in the inerrancy
of Scripture. Since the text and audio content provided by BLB represent a
range of evangelical traditions, all of the ideas and principles conveyed
in the resource materials are not necessarily affirmed, in total, by this ministry.
Translation Selection order copied to Bibles Tab order
Bibles Tab order copied to Translation Selection order
Translation Selection order and Bibles Tab order have been reset
You can copy the order of your preferred Bible translations from the Bibles Tab to the Version Picker (this popup) or vice versa. The Bibles Tab is found in the Tools feature on Bible pages:
KJVKing James Version
NKJVNew King James Version
NLTNew Living Translation
NIVNew International Version
ESVEnglish Standard Version
CSBChristian Standard Bible
NASB20New American Standard Bible 2020
NASB95New American Standard Bible 1995
LSBLegacy Standard Bible
AMPAmplified Bible
NETNew English Translation
RSVRevised Standard Version
ASVAmerican Standard Version
YLTYoung's Literal Translation
DBYDarby Translation
WEBWebster's Bible
HNVHebrew Names Version
VULLatin Vulgate
WLCWestminster Leningrad Codex
LXXSeptuagint
mGNTMorphological Greek New Testament
TRTextus Receptus
SVDSmith Van Dyck Arabic Bible
NAVOpen New Arabic Version
RVR09Reina Valera 1909
RVR60Reina-Valera 1960
BBEBible in Basic English
CHTChinese Traditional Union
EMEspanol Moderno
KORKorean Holy Bible
LSLouis Segond
LUTGerman Luther
RSTRussian Synodal Translation
SESagradas Escrituras
Cite This Page
MLA Format
Note: MLA no longer requires the URL as part of their citation standard. Individual instructors or editors may still require the use of URLs.
Cookie Notice:
Our website uses cookies to store user preferences. By proceeding, you consent to our cookie usage.
Please see Blue Letter Bible's Privacy Policy for cookie usage details.