1 Samuel 28

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 It then happened that the Philistines mustered their forces for war, to fight Israel, and Achish said toDavid, 'It is understood that you and your men go into battle with me.'	1 In those days the Philistines mustered their military forces to fight against Israel. So Achish said to David, "You realize, of course, that you and your men must go out on campaign with me to Jezreel."
2 David said to Achish, 'In that case, you wil soon see what your servant can do.' Achish replied toDavid, 'Right, I shal appoint you as my permanent bodyguard.'	2 David answered Achish, "Good! Now you shall learn what your servant can do." Then Achish said to David, "I shall appoint you my permanent bodyguard."
3 Now Samuel was dead, and al Israel had mourned him and buried him at Ramah, his own town. Saulhad expel ed the necromancers and wizards from the country.	3 Now Samuel had died and, after being mourned by all Israel, was buried in his city, Ramah. Meanwhile Saul had driven mediums and fortune-tellers out of the land.
4 Meanwhile the Philistines had mustered and had come and pitched camp at Shunem. Saul musteredal Israel and they encamped at Gilboa.	4 The Philistine levies advanced to Shunem and encamped. Saul, too, mustered all Israel; they camped on Gilboa.
5 When Saul saw the Philistine camp, he was afraid and his heart trembled violently.	5 When Saul saw the camp of the Philistines, he was dismayed and lost heart completely.
6 Saul consulted Yahweh, but Yahweh gave him no answer, either by dream, divination or prophet.	6 He therefore consulted the LORD; but the LORD gave no answer, whether in dreams or by the Urim or through prophets.
7 Saul then said to his servants, 'Find a necromancer for me, so that I can go and consult her.' Hisservants replied, 'There is a necromancer at En-Dor.'	7 Then Saul said to his servants, "Find me a woman who is a medium, to whom I can go to seek counsel through her." His servants answered him, "There is a woman in Endor who is a medium."
8 And so Saul, disguising himself and changing his clothes, set out accompanied by two men; their visitto the woman took place at night. 'Disclose the future to me', he said, 'by means of a ghost. Conjure up the one Ishall name to you.'	8 So he disguised himself, putting on other clothes, and set out with two companions. They came to the woman by night, and Saul said to her, "Tell my fortune through a ghost; conjure up for me the one I ask you to."
9 The woman replied, 'Look, you know what Saul has done, how he has outlawed necromancers andwizards from the country; why are you setting a trap for my life, then, to have me killed?'	9 But the woman answered him, "You are surely aware of what Saul has done, in driving the mediums and fortune-tellers out of the land. Why, then, are you laying snares for my life, to have me killed?"
10 But Saul swore to her by Yahweh, 'As Yahweh lives,' he said, 'no blame shal attach to you for thisbusiness.'	10 But Saul swore to her by the LORD, "As the LORD lives, you shall incur no blame for this."
11 The woman asked, 'Whom shal I conjure up for you?' He replied, 'Conjure up Samuel.'	11 Then the woman asked him, "Whom do you want me to conjure up?" and he answered, "Samuel."
12 The woman then saw Samuel and, giving a great cry, she said to Saul, 'Why have you deceived me?You are Saul!'	12 When the woman saw Samuel, she shrieked at the top of her voice and said to Saul, "Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!"
13 The king said, 'Do not be afraid! What do you see?' The woman replied to Saul, 'I see a ghost risingfrom the earth.'	13 But the king said to her, "Have no fear. What do you see?" The woman answered Saul, "I see a preternatural being rising from the earth."
14 'What is he like?' he asked. She replied, 'It is an old man coming up; he is wrapped in a cloak.' Saulthen knew that it was Samuel and, bowing to the ground, prostrated himself.	14 "What does he look like?" asked Saul. And she replied, "It is an old man who is rising, clothed in a mantle." Saul knew that it was Samuel, and so he bowed face to the ground in homage.
15 Samuel said to Saul, 'Why have you disturbed my rest by conjuring me up?' Saul replied, 'I am ingreat distress; the Philistines are waging war on me, and God has abandoned me and no longer answers meeither by prophet or by dream; and so I have summoned you to tel me what I ought to do.'	15 Samuel then said to Saul, "Why do you disturb me by conjuring me up?" Saul replied: "I am in great straits, for the Philistines are waging war against me and God has abandoned me. Since he no longer answers me through prophets or in dreams, I have called you to tell me what I should do."
16 Samuel said, 'Why consult me, when Yahweh has abandoned you and has become your enemy?	16 To this Samuel said: "But why do you ask me, if the LORD has abandoned you and is with your neighbor?
17 Yahweh has treated you as he foretold through me; he has snatched the sovereignty from your handand given it to your neighbour, David,	17 The LORD has done to you what he foretold through me: he has torn the kingdom from your grasp and has given it to your neighbor David.
18 because you disobeyed Yahweh's voice and did not execute his fierce anger against Amalek. That iswhy Yahweh is treating you like this today.	18 "Because you disobeyed the LORD'S directive and would not carry out his fierce anger against Amalek, the LORD has done this to you today.
19 What is more, Yahweh will deliver Israel and you too, into the power of the Philistines. Tomorrow youand your sons will be with me; and Yahweh wil hand over the army of Israel into the power of the Philistines.'	19 Moreover, the LORD will deliver Israel, and you as well, into the clutches of the Philistines. By tomorrow you and your sons will be with me, and the LORD will have delivered the army of Israel into the hands of the Philistines."
20 Immediately Saul fell ful length on the ground. He was terrified by what Samuel had said and wasalso weak from having eaten nothing al that day and night.	20 Immediately Saul fell full length on the ground, for he was badly shaken by Samuel's message. Moreover, he had no bodily strength left, since he had eaten nothing all that day and night.
21 The woman went to Saul and, seeing his terror, said, 'Look, your servant has obeyed your order; Ihave taken my life in my hands and obeyed the command which you gave me.	21 Then the woman came to Saul, and seeing that he was quite terror-stricken, said to him: "Remember, your maidservant obeyed you: I took my life in my hands and fulfilled the request you made of me.
22 Now please, you in your turn listen to what your servant has to say. Let me offer you a piece ofbread. Eat something and get some strength for your journey.'	22 Now you, in turn, please listen to your maidservant. Let me set something before you to eat, so that you may have strength when you go on your way."
23 But he refused. 'I wil not eat,' he said. His servants however pressed him, and so did the woman.Al owing himself to be persuaded by them, he got up from the ground and sat on the bed.	23 But he refused, saying, "I will not eat." However, when his servants joined the woman in urging him, he listened to their entreaties, got up from the ground, and sat on a couch.
24 The woman owned a fattened calf which she quickly slaughtered, and she took some flour andkneaded it and with it baked some unleavened cakes	24 The woman had a stall-fed calf in the house, which she now quickly slaughtered. Then taking flour, she kneaded it and baked unleavened bread.
25 which she served to Saul and his servants; they ate, and then set off and left the same night.	25 She set the meal before Saul and his servants, and they ate. Then they stood up and left the same night.