Looking for the donkeys
There was a Benjamite named Kish, son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Bekorath, son of Aphiah. He was a wealthy and influential man. Kish had a son named Saul, a striking young man. There wasn't a better-looking man in Israel, and he stood head and shoulders above everyone else. One day Kish's donkeys wandered off. Kish told Saul: Take one of the servants with you and go look for the donkeys. Saul travelled through the hill country of Ephraim and the lands of Shalisha, Shaalim and Benjamin, but the donkeys were nowhere to be found. When they reached the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant: We'd better head back, or Dad will stop worrying about the donkeys and start worrying about us. The servant said: Hang on, there's a man of God in this city, and he's highly respected. Everything he says comes true. Let's go see him. Maybe he can tell us which way to go. Saul said: If we go, what are we going to give the man? The bread in our bags is gone, and we've got no gift for the man of God. What have we got? The servant answered: I've got a quarter of a shekel of silver. I'll give it to the man of God, and he can tell us which way to go. In earlier times in Israel, someone going to inquire of God would say: Come on, let's go to the seer. What is now called a prophet was then called a seer. Saul said: Good idea. Let's go. So they headed for the city where the man of God was. As they climbed the hill toward the city, they met some young women coming out to draw water. They asked: Is the seer here? They answered: Yes, he's just ahead of you. Hurry — he came to the city today because the people are holding a sacrifice at the high place. As soon as you enter the city you'll find him, before he goes up to the high place to eat. The people won't begin until he arrives and blesses the sacrifice. After that the invited guests eat. Go now and you'll catch him. They went up into the city, and there was Samuel coming toward them on his way to the high place.
Now there was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish son of Abiel son of Zeror son of Bekorath son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power. And he had a son whose name was Saul, a good-looking young man. And there wasn't a better-looking man among the people of Israel than him. From his shoulders up he was taller than any of the people. And the donkeys of Kish, Saul's father, were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son: Take one of the servants with you now and get up, go and look for the donkeys. And he went through Mount Ephraim and through the land of Shalisha, but they didn't find them. Then they went through the land of Shaalim, and they weren't there. And he went through the land of the Benjamites, but they didn't find them. And when they came to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant who was with him: Come and let's go back, or my father will stop caring about the donkeys and worry about us. And he said to him: Look — there's a man of God in this town, and he's an honoured man. Everything he says definitely comes about. Let's go there now. Maybe he can show us the way we should go. Then Saul said to his servant: But if we go, what'll we bring the man? Because the bread in our bags is gone, and there's no gift to bring the man of God. What have we got? And the servant answered Saul again: Look — I've got here a quarter of a shekel of silver. I'll give that to the man of God, so he can tell us our way. In the old days in Israel, when a man went to ask of God, he said this: Come and let's go to the seer. Because the one who's now called a prophet was called a seer before. Then Saul said to his servant: Good, come and let's go. So they went to the town where the man of God was. And as they went up the hill to the town, they found young women going out to draw water and said to them: Is the seer here? And they answered them: He is. Look — he's in front of you. Hurry now, because he came to the town today. Because there's a sacrifice for the people today in the high place. As soon as you come into the town, you'll find him straight away, before he goes up to the high place to eat. Because the people won't eat till he comes, because he blesses the sacrifice. And after that the ones who are asked eat. So go up now, because you'll find him about this time. And they went up into the town. And when they'd come into the town, there was Samuel coming out towards them, to go up to the high place.
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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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? 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. (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.) Then said Saul to his servant, Well said; come, let us go. So they went unto the city where the man of God was. 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? 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: 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. 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.
There was a Benjamite named Kish, son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Bekorath, son of Aphiah. He was a wealthy and influential man.
Now there was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish son of Abiel son of Zeror son of Bekorath son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power.
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.
Kish had a son named Saul, a striking young man. There wasn't a better-looking man in Israel, and he stood head and shoulders above everyone else.
And he had a son whose name was Saul, a good-looking young man. And there wasn't a better-looking man among the people of Israel than him. From his shoulders up he was taller than any of the people.
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.
One day Kish's donkeys wandered off. Kish told Saul: Take one of the servants with you and go look for the donkeys.
And the donkeys of Kish, Saul's father, were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son: Take one of the servants with you now and get up, go and look for the donkeys.
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.
Saul travelled through the hill country of Ephraim and the lands of Shalisha, Shaalim and Benjamin, but the donkeys were nowhere to be found.
And he went through Mount Ephraim and through the land of Shalisha, but they didn't find them. Then they went through the land of Shaalim, and they weren't there. And he went through the land of the Benjamites, but they didn't find them.
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.
When they reached the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant: We'd better head back, or Dad will stop worrying about the donkeys and start worrying about us.
And when they came to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant who was with him: Come and let's go back, or my father will stop caring about the donkeys and worry about us.
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.
The servant said: Hang on, there's a man of God in this city, and he's highly respected. Everything he says comes true. Let's go see him. Maybe he can tell us which way to go.
And he said to him: Look — there's a man of God in this town, and he's an honoured man. Everything he says definitely comes about. Let's go there now. Maybe he can show us the way we should go.
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.
Saul said: If we go, what are we going to give the man? The bread in our bags is gone, and we've got no gift for the man of God. What have we got?
Then Saul said to his servant: But if we go, what'll we bring the man? Because the bread in our bags is gone, and there's no gift to bring the man of God. What have we got?
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?
The servant answered: I've got a quarter of a shekel of silver. I'll give it to the man of God, and he can tell us which way to go.
And the servant answered Saul again: Look — I've got here a quarter of a shekel of silver. I'll give that to the man of God, so he can tell us our way.
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.
In earlier times in Israel, someone going to inquire of God would say: Come on, let's go to the seer. What is now called a prophet was then called a seer.
In the old days in Israel, when a man went to ask of God, he said this: Come and let's go to the seer. Because the one who's now called a prophet was called a seer before.
(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.)
Saul said: Good idea. Let's go. So they headed for the city where the man of God was.
Then Saul said to his servant: Good, come and let's go. So they went to the town where the man of God was.
Then said Saul to his servant, Well said; come, let us go. So they went unto the city where the man of God was.
As they climbed the hill toward the city, they met some young women coming out to draw water. They asked: Is the seer here?
And as they went up the hill to the town, they found young women going out to draw water and said to them: Is the seer here?
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?
They answered: Yes, he's just ahead of you. Hurry — he came to the city today because the people are holding a sacrifice at the high place.
And they answered them: He is. Look — he's in front of you. Hurry now, because he came to the town today. Because there's a sacrifice for the people today in the high place.
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:
As soon as you enter the city you'll find him, before he goes up to the high place to eat. The people won't begin until he arrives and blesses the sacrifice. After that the invited guests eat. Go now and you'll catch him.
As soon as you come into the town, you'll find him straight away, before he goes up to the high place to eat. Because the people won't eat till he comes, because he blesses the sacrifice. And after that the ones who are asked eat. So go up now, because you'll find him about this time.
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.
They went up into the city, and there was Samuel coming toward them on his way to the high place.
And they went up into the town. And when they'd come into the town, there was Samuel coming out towards them, to go up to the high place.
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.
Samuel meets Saul
The day before Saul arrived, the Lord had revealed this to Samuel: About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from Benjamin. Anoint him leader over my people Israel. He will save my people from the Philistines, for I have seen their distress and heard their cry. When Samuel saw Saul, the Lord said: That's the man I told you about. He will govern my people. Saul approached Samuel at the gate and asked: Could you tell me where the seer's house is? Samuel answered: I'm the seer. Go on ahead of me to the high place. You'll eat with me today; tomorrow morning I'll send you on your way and tell you what's on your mind. As for the donkeys you lost three days ago, don't worry about them — they've been found. And who is all Israel looking to? Isn't it you and your father's whole family? Saul answered: But I'm a Benjamite, from the smallest tribe in Israel, and my clan is the least of Benjamin's clans. Why are you talking to me like this? Samuel took Saul and his servant into the hall and gave them the best seats among about thirty invited guests. Samuel told the cook: Bring out the portion I gave you and told you to keep aside. The cook brought out the thigh and what was on it and set it before Saul. Samuel said: Here's the portion kept for you. Eat — it was set aside for you for this occasion. So Saul ate with Samuel that day. After they came down from the high place into the city, Samuel spoke with Saul on the roof. At daybreak Samuel called up to Saul on the roof: Up you get. I'll send you on your way. Saul got up, and the two of them went outside. As they reached the edge of the city, Samuel said: Tell your servant to go ahead of us. You stay here a moment, and I'll give you a message from God.
Now the Lord had told Samuel a day before Saul came: Tomorrow about this time I'll send you a man out of the land of Benjamin, and you'll anoint him to be captain over my people Israel, so he can save my people out of the hand of the Philistines. Because I've looked at my people, because their cry has come to me. And when Samuel saw Saul, the Lord said to him: Look — this is the man I spoke to you about. This one will rule over my people. Then Saul came near Samuel in the gate: Tell me, please, where the seer's house is. And Samuel answered Saul: I'm the seer. Go up in front of me to the high place, because you'll eat with me today. And tomorrow I'll let you go and will tell you everything that's in your heart. And as for your donkeys that were lost three days ago, don't set your mind on them, because they're found. And who's all the wanting of Israel on? Isn't it on you and on all your father's house? And Saul answered: Aren't 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? So why do you speak to me like this? And Samuel took Saul and his servant and brought them into the hall, and made them sit in the best place among the ones who were asked, who were about thirty men. And Samuel said to the cook: Bring the portion I gave you, that I said to you: Set it by you. And the cook took up the thigh and what was on it and set it in front of Saul. And Samuel said: Look — what was kept back. Set it in front of you and eat. Because it's been kept for you for this time, since I said I'd ask the people. So Saul ate with Samuel that day. And when they'd come down from the high place into the town, Samuel talked with Saul on the roof. And they got up early. And about the break of day Samuel called to Saul on the roof: Get up, so I can send you away. And Saul got up, and both of them went out, he and Samuel. And as they were going down to the edge of the town, Samuel said to Saul: Tell the servant to go on in front of us — and he went on — but you stand still a bit, so I can show you the word of God.
Now the LORD had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying, 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. 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. Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, where the seer’s house is. 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. 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? 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? 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. And Samuel said unto the cook, Bring the portion which I gave thee, of which I said unto thee, Set it by thee. 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. And when they were come down from the high place into the city, Samuel communed with Saul upon the top of the house. 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. 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.
The day before Saul arrived, the Lord had revealed this to Samuel:
Now the Lord had told Samuel a day before Saul came:
Now the LORD had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying,
About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from Benjamin. Anoint him leader over my people Israel. He will save my people from the Philistines, for I have seen their distress and heard their cry.
Tomorrow about this time I'll send you a man out of the land of Benjamin, and you'll anoint him to be captain over my people Israel, so he can save my people out of the hand of the Philistines. Because I've looked at my people, because their cry has come to me.
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.
When Samuel saw Saul, the Lord said: That's the man I told you about. He will govern my people.
And when Samuel saw Saul, the Lord said to him: Look — this is the man I spoke to you about. This one will rule over my people.
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.
Saul approached Samuel at the gate and asked: Could you tell me where the seer's house is?
Then Saul came near Samuel in the gate: Tell me, please, where the seer's house is.
Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, where the seer’s house is.
Samuel answered: I'm the seer. Go on ahead of me to the high place. You'll eat with me today; tomorrow morning I'll send you on your way and tell you what's on your mind.
And Samuel answered Saul: I'm the seer. Go up in front of me to the high place, because you'll eat with me today. And tomorrow I'll let you go and will tell you everything that's in your heart.
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.
As for the donkeys you lost three days ago, don't worry about them — they've been found. And who is all Israel looking to? Isn't it you and your father's whole family?
And as for your donkeys that were lost three days ago, don't set your mind on them, because they're found. And who's all the wanting of Israel on? Isn't it on you and on all your father's house?
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?
Saul answered: But I'm a Benjamite, from the smallest tribe in Israel, and my clan is the least of Benjamin's clans. Why are you talking to me like this?
And Saul answered: Aren't 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? So why do you speak to me like this?
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?
Samuel took Saul and his servant into the hall and gave them the best seats among about thirty invited guests.
And Samuel took Saul and his servant and brought them into the hall, and made them sit in the best place among the ones who were asked, who were about thirty men.
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.
Samuel told the cook: Bring out the portion I gave you and told you to keep aside.
And Samuel said to the cook: Bring the portion I gave you, that I said to you: Set it by you.
And Samuel said unto the cook, Bring the portion which I gave thee, of which I said unto thee, Set it by thee.
The cook brought out the thigh and what was on it and set it before Saul. Samuel said: Here's the portion kept for you. Eat — it was set aside for you for this occasion. So Saul ate with Samuel that day.
And the cook took up the thigh and what was on it and set it in front of Saul. And Samuel said: Look — what was kept back. Set it in front of you and eat. Because it's been kept for you for this time, since I said I'd ask the people. So Saul ate with Samuel that day.
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.
After they came down from the high place into the city, Samuel spoke with Saul on the roof.
And when they'd come down from the high place into the town, Samuel talked with Saul on the roof.
And when they were come down from the high place into the city, Samuel communed with Saul upon the top of the house.
At daybreak Samuel called up to Saul on the roof: Up you get. I'll send you on your way. Saul got up, and the two of them went outside.
And they got up early. And about the break of day Samuel called to Saul on the roof: Get up, so I can send you away. And Saul got up, and both of them went out, he and Samuel.
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.
As they reached the edge of the city, Samuel said: Tell your servant to go ahead of us. You stay here a moment, and I'll give you a message from God.
And as they were going down to the edge of the town, Samuel said to Saul: Tell the servant to go on in front of us — and he went on — but you stand still a bit, so I can show you the word of God.
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.