1 Samuel 9

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Among the men of Benjamin was a man cal ed Kish son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son ofAphiah; a Benjaminite and a person of rank.	1 There was a stalwart man from Benjamin named Kish, who was the son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son of Aphiah, a Benjaminite.
2 He had a son cal ed Saul, a handsome man in the prime of life. Of al the Israelites there was no onemore handsome than he; he stood head and shoulders tal er than anyone else.	2 He had a son named Saul, who was a handsome young man. There was no other Israelite handsomer than Saul; he stood head and shoulders above the people.
3 Now since the donkeys belonging to Kish, Saul's father, had strayed, Kish said to his son Saul, 'My son,take one of the servants with you and be off; go and look for the donkeys.'	3 Now the asses of Saul's father, Kish, had wandered off. Kish said to his son Saul, "Take one of the servants with you and go out and hunt for the asses."
4 They went through the highlands of Ephraim, they went through the territory of Shalishah, and did notfind them; they went through the territory of Shaalim but they were not there; they went through the territory ofBenjamin and did not find them.	4 Accordingly they went through the hill country of Ephraim, and through the land of Shalishah. Not finding them there, they continued through the land of Shaalim without success. They also went through the land of Benjamin, but they failed to find the animals.
5 When they reached the territory of Zuph, Saul said to the servant who was with him, 'Come on, let usgo back or my father wil stop worrying over the donkeys and start being anxious about us.'	5 When they came to the land of Zuph, Saul said to the servant who was with him, "Come, let us turn back, lest my father forget about the asses and become anxious about us."
6 The servant, however, replied, 'Look, there is a man of God in this town, a man who is held in honour;everything he says comes true. Let us go there, then; perhaps he wil be able to show us the way that we shouldtake.'	6 The servant replied, "Listen! There is a man of God in this city, a man held in high esteem; all that he says is sure to come true. Let us go there now! Perhaps he can tell us how to accomplish our errand."
7 Saul said to his servant, 'But if we do go, what can we take to the man? The food in our sacks isfinished, and we have no present to offer the man of God. What else have we got?'	7 But Saul said to his servant, "If we go, what can we offer the man? There is no bread in our bags, and we have no present to give the man of God. What have we?"
8 The servant spoke up again and said to Saul, 'Look, I happen to have a quarter of a silver shekel; Ishall give that to the man of God, for him to tel us which way to go.'	8 Again the servant answered Saul, "I have a quarter of a silver shekel. If I give that to the man of God, he will tell us our way."
9 In Israel, in olden days, when anyone used to go to consult God, he would say, 'Come on, let us go tothe seer,' for a man who is now cal ed a 'prophet' used to be cal ed a 'seer' in olden days.	9 (In former times in Israel, anyone who went to consult God used to say, "Come, let us go to the seer." For he who is now called prophet was formerly called seer.)
10 Saul then said to his servant, 'Wel said! Come on, let us go.' And they went off to the town where theman of God was.	10 Saul then said to his servant, "Well said! Come on, let us go!" And they went to the city where the man of God lived.
11 As they were going up the slope to the town they came across some girls going out to draw water, andsaid to them, 'Is the seer there?'	11 As they were going up the ascent to the city, they met some girls coming out to draw water and inquired of them, "Is the seer in town?"
12 The girls replied, 'He is. He arrived a moment or two ahead of you. You had better hurry: he has justcome to town because the people are having a sacrifice today on the high place.	12 The girls answered, "Yes, there--straight ahead. Hurry now; just today he came to the city, because the people have a sacrifice today on the high place.
13 You can catch him as soon as you go into the town, before he goes up to the high place for the meal.The people wil not eat until he comes, since he must bless the sacrifice; after that, the guests will start eating. Ifyou go up now, you will find him straight away.'	13 When you enter the city, you may reach him before he goes up to the high place to eat. The people will not eat until he arrives; only after he blesses the sacrifice will the invited guests eat. Go up immediately, for you should find him right now."
14 So they went up to the town and, as they were going through the gate, Samuel came out towardsthem on his way to the high place.	14 So they went up to the city. As they entered it, Samuel was coming toward them on his way to the high place.
15 Now, Yahweh had given Samuel a revelation the day before Saul came, saying,	15 The day before Saul's arrival, the LORD had given Samuel the revelation:
16 'About this time tomorrow, I shal send you a man from the territory of Benjamin; you are to anoint himas prince of my people Israel, and he wil save my people from the power of the Philistines; for I have seen themisery of my people and their cries of anguish have come to me.'	16 "At this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin whom you are to anoint as commander of my people Israel. He shall save my people from the clutches of the Philistines, for I have witnessed their misery and accepted their cry for help."
17 When Samuel saw Saul, Yahweh told him, 'That is the man of whom I said to you, "He is to govern mypeople." '	17 When Samuel caught sight of Saul, the LORD assured him, "This is the man of whom I told you; he is to govern my people."
18 Saul accosted Samuel in the gateway and said, 'Tel me, please, where the seer's house is.'	18 Saul met Samuel in the gateway and said, "Please tell me where the seer lives."
19 Samuel replied to Saul, 'I am the seer. Go up ahead of me to the high place. You must eat with metoday. Tomorrow, when I let you go, I shal tell you whatever is on your mind.	19 Samuel answered Saul: "I am the seer. Go up ahead of me to the high place and eat with me today. In the morning, before dismissing you, I will tell you whatever you wish.
20 As regards your donkeys, however, which strayed three days ago, do not worry about them; they havebeen found. And for whom is the whole wealth of Israel destined, if not for you and for al the members of yourfather's family?'	20 As for the asses you lost three days ago, do not worry about them, for they have been found. Whom does Israel desire ardently if not you and your father's family?"
21 To this, Saul replied, 'Am I not a Benjaminite, from the smallest of the tribes of Israel? And is not myfamily the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why are you saying a thing like this to me?'	21 Saul replied: "Am I not a Benjaminite, of one of the smallest tribes of Israel, and is not my clan the least among the clans of the tribe of Benjamin? Why say such things to me?"
22 Samuel then took Saul and his servant and brought them into the hal and gave them a place at thehead of the guests, of whom there were about thirty.	22 Samuel then took Saul and his servant and brought them to the room, where he placed them at the head of the guests, of whom there were about thirty.
23 Samuel then said to the cook, 'Serve the portion which I gave you and told you to put on one side.'	23 He said to the cook, "Bring the portion I gave you and told you to put aside."
24 The cook then picked up the leg and the tail and put it in front of Saul, saying, 'This is for you. This iswhat was left. Make a good meal . . .' That day, Saul ate with Samuel.	24 So the cook took up the leg and what went with it, and placed it before Saul. Samuel said: "This is a reserved portion that has been set before you. Eat, for it was kept for you until your arrival; I explained that I was inviting some guests." Thus Saul dined with Samuel that day.
25 They came down from the high place into the town. A bed was made for Saul on the roof and he laydown there.	25 When they came down from the high place into the city, a mattress was spread for Saul on the roof,
26 At dawn, Samuel cal ed to Saul on the roof, 'Get up, and I shall send you on your way.' Saul got up,and Samuel and he went outside together.	26 and he slept there. At daybreak Samuel called to Saul on the roof, "Get up, and I will start you on your journey." Saul rose, and he and Samuel went outside the city together.
27 They had walked as far as the end of the town when Samuel said to Saul, 'Tell the servant to go onahead of us, but you stand stil for a moment, so that I can make known to you the word of God.'	27 As they were approaching the edge of the town, Samuel said to Saul, "Tell the servant to go on ahead of us, but stay here yourself for the moment, that I may give you a message from God."