1 Samuel 28

NEW JERUSALEM	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
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 Now it happened that, in those days, the Philistines gathered together their troops, so that they might be prepared for war against Israel. And Achish said to David, “I know now, certainly, that you will go out with me to war, you and your men.”
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 And David said to Achish, “You know now what your servant will do.” And Achish said to David, “And so, I will appoint you to guard my head for all days.”
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 was dead, and all of Israel mourned for him, and they buried him in Ramah, his city. And Saul took away the magi and soothsayers from 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 And the Philistines gathered together, and they arrived and made camp at Shunem. Then Saul also gathered all of Israel, and he arrived at Gilboa.
5 When Saul saw the Philistine camp, he was afraid and his heart trembled violently.	5 And Saul saw the camp of the Philistines, and he was afraid, and his heart was exceedingly terrified.
6 Saul consulted Yahweh, but Yahweh gave him no answer, either by dream, divination or prophet.	6 And he consulted the Lord. But he did not respond to him, neither by dreams, nor by priests, nor by 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 And Saul said to his servants, “Seek for me a woman having a divining spirit, and I will go to her, and consult through her.” And his servants said to him, “There is a woman having a divining spirit at Endor.”
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 Therefore, he changed his usual appearance, and he put on other clothes. And he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night. And he said to her, “Divine for me, by your divining spirit, and raise up for me whomever I will tell you.”
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 And the woman said to him: “Behold, you know how much Saul has done, and how he has wiped away the magi and soothsayers from the land. Why then do you set a trap for my life, so that it will be put to death?”
10 But Saul swore to her by Yahweh, 'As Yahweh lives,' he said, 'no blame shal attach to you for thisbusiness.'	10 And Saul swore to her by the Lord, saying, “As the Lord lives, nothing evil will befall you because of this matter.”
11 The woman asked, 'Whom shal I conjure up for you?' He replied, 'Conjure up Samuel.'	11 And the woman said to him, “Whom shall I raise up for you?” And he said, “Raise up for me 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 And when the woman had seen Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice, and she said to Saul: “Why have you afflicted me? For 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 And the king said to her: “Do not be afraid. What have you seen?” And the woman said to Saul, “I saw gods ascending 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 And he said to her, “What appearance does he have?” And she said, “An old man ascends, and he is clothed in a cloak.” And Saul understood that it was Samuel. And he bowed himself upon his face on the ground, and he reverenced.
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 Then Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disquieted me, so that I would be raised up?” And Saul said: “I am greatly distressed. For the Philistines fight against me, and God has withdrawn from me, and he is not willing to heed me, neither by the hand of prophets, nor by dreams. Therefore, I have summoned you, so that you would reveal to me what I should do.”
16 Samuel said, 'Why consult me, when Yahweh has abandoned you and has become your enemy?	16 And Samuel said, “Why do you question me, though the Lord has withdrawn from you, and has crossed over to your rival?
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 For the Lord will do to you just as he spoke by my hand. And he will tear your kingdom from your hand. And he will give 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 For you did not obey the voice of the Lord, and you did not carry out the wrath of his fury upon Amalek. For this reason, the Lord has done to you what you are enduring this day.
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 And the Lord also will give Israel into the hands of the Philistines, along with you. Then tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. But the Lord will also deliver the camp 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 And immediately, Saul fell stretched out on the ground. For he was terrified by the words of Samuel. And there was no strength in him. For he had not eaten bread all that day.
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 And so, the woman entered to Saul, (for he was very troubled) and she said to him: “Behold, your handmaid has obeyed your voice, and I have placed my life in my hand. And I have heeded the words which you spoke to 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 And so now, I ask you to heed the voice of your handmaid, and let me place before you a morsel of bread, so that, by eating, you may recover strength, and you may be able to undertake the journey.”
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, and he said, “I will not eat.” But his servants and the woman urged him, and after some time, heeding their voice, he rose up from the ground, and he sat upon the bed.
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 Now the woman had a fatted calf in the house, and she hurried and killed it. And taking meal, she kneaded it, and she baked unleavened bread.
25 which she served to Saul and his servants; they ate, and then set off and left the same night.	25 And she set it before Saul and before his servants. And when they had eaten, they rose up, and they walked all through that night.