1 Samuel 9 – read and compare multiple versions of the Bible

World English Bible

1 Samuel 9 (WEBP)

[1] Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah, the son of a Benjamite, a mighty man of valor.
[2] He had a son whose name was Saul, an impressive young man; and there was not among the children of Israel a more handsome person than he. From his shoulders and upward he was taller than any of the people.
[3] The donkeys of Kish, Saul’s father, were lost. Kish said to Saul his son, “Now take one of the servants with you, and arise, go look for the donkeys.”
[4] He passed through the hill country of Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalishah, but they didn’t find them. Then they passed through the land of Shaalim, and they weren’t there. Then he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they didn’t find them.
[5] When they had come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant who was with him, “Come! Let’s return, lest my father stop caring about the donkeys and be anxious for us.”
[6] The servant said to him, “Behold now, there is a man of God in this city, and he is a man who is held in honor. All that he says surely happens. Now let’s go there. Perhaps he can tell us which way to go.”
[7] Then Saul said to his servant, “But behold, if we go, what should we bring the man? For the bread is spent in our sacks, and there is not a present to bring to the man of God. What do we have?”
[8] The servant answered Saul again and said, “Behold, I have in my hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver. I will give that to the man of God, to tell us our way.”
[9] (In earlier times in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, he said, “Come! Let’s go to the seer;” for he who is now called a prophet was before called a seer.)
[10] Then Saul said to his servant, “Well said. Come! Let’s go.” So they went to the city where the man of God was.
[11] As they went up the ascent to the city, they found young maidens going out to draw water, and said to them, “Is the seer here?”
[12] They answered them and said, “He is. Behold, he is before you. Hurry now, for he has come today into the city; for the people have a sacrifice today in the high place.
[13] As soon as you have come into the city, you will immediately find him before he goes up to the high place to eat; for the people will not eat until he comes, because he blesses the sacrifice. Afterwards those who are invited eat. Now therefore go up; for at this time you will find him.”
[14] They went up to the city. As they came within the city, behold, Samuel came out toward them to go up to the high place.
[15] Now Yahweh had revealed to Samuel a day before Saul came, saying,
[16] “Tomorrow about this time I will send you a man out of the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be prince over my people Israel. He will save my people out of the hand of the Philistines; for I have looked upon my people, because their cry has come to me.”
[17] When Samuel saw Saul, Yahweh said to him, “Behold, the man of whom I spoke to you! He will have authority over my people.”
[18] Then Saul approached Samuel in the gateway, and said, “Please tell me where the seer’s house is.”
[19] Samuel answered Saul and said, “I am the seer. Go up before me to the high place, for you are to eat with me today. In the morning I will let you go and will tell you all that is in your heart.
[20] As for your donkeys who were lost three days ago, don’t set your mind on them, for they have been found. For whom does all Israel desire? Is it not you and all your father’s house?”
[21] Saul answered, “Am I not a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? And my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then do you speak to me like this?”
[22] Samuel took Saul and his servant and brought them into the guest room, and made them sit in the best place among those who were invited, who were about thirty persons.
[23] Samuel said to the cook, “Bring the portion which I gave you, of which I said to you, ‘Set it aside.’ ”
[24] The cook took up the thigh, and that which was on it, and set it before Saul. Samuel said, “Behold, that which has been reserved! Set it before yourself and eat; because it has been kept for you for the appointed time, for I said, ‘I have invited the people.’ ” So Saul ate with Samuel that day.
[25] When they had come down from the high place into the city, he talked with Saul on the housetop.
[26] They arose early; and about daybreak, Samuel called to Saul on the housetop, saying, “Get up, that I may send you away.” Saul arose, and they both went outside, he and Samuel, together.
[27] As they were going down at the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, “Tell the servant to go on ahead of us.” He went ahead, then Samuel said, “But stand still first, that I may cause you to hear God’s message.”

1 Samuel 9:8 A shekel is about 10 grams or about 0.35 ounces, so 1/4 shekel would be a small coin of about 2.5 grams.

Scripture quotations are taken from The World English Bible™ of eBible.org, 2020 stable text edition. It is in the public domain.

King James w/Strong’s #s

1 Samuel 9 (KJVS)

[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 .

Young’s Literal Translation

1 Samuel 9 (YLT)

[1] And there is a man of Benjamin, and his name is Kish, son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Bechorath, son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, mighty of valour,
[2] and he hath a son, and his name is Saul, a choice youth and goodly, and there is not a man among the sons of Israel goodlier than he-from his shoulder and upward, higher than any of the people.
[3] And the asses of Kish, father of Saul, are lost, and Kish saith unto Saul his son, ‘Take, I pray thee, with thee, one of the young men, and rise, go, seek the asses.’
[4] And he passeth over through the hill-country of Ephraim, and passeth over through the land of Shalisha, and they have not found; and they pass over through the land of Shaalim, and they are not; and he passeth over through the land of Benjamin, and they have not found.
[5] They have come in unto the land of Zuph, and Saul hath said to his young man who is with him, ‘Come, and we turn back, lest my father leave off from the asses, and hath been sorrowful for us.’
[6] And he saith to him, ‘Lo, I pray thee, a man of God is in this city, and the man is honoured; all that he speaketh doth certainly come; now, we go there, it may be he doth declare to us our way on which we have gone.’
[7] And Saul saith to his young man, ‘And lo, we go, and what do we bring in to the man? for the bread hath gone from our vessels, and a present there is not to bring in to the man of God-what is with us?’
[8] And the young man addeth to answer Saul, and saith, ‘Lo, there is found with me a fourth of a shekel of silver: and I have given to the man of God, and he hath declared to us our way.’
[9] Formerly in Israel, thus said the man in his going to seek God, ‘Come and we go unto the seer,’ for the ‘prophet’ of to-day is called formerly ‘the seer.’
[10] And Saul saith to his young man, ‘Thy word is good; come, we go;’ and they go unto the city where the man of God is.
[11] They are going up in the ascent of the city, and have found young women going out to draw water, and say to them, ‘Is the seer in this place?’
[12] And they answer them and say, ‘He is; lo, before thee! haste, now, for to-day he hath come in to the city, for the people hath a stated sacrifice in a high place.
[13] At your going in to the city so ye do find him, before he doth go up in to the high place to eat; for the people do not eat till his coming, for he doth bless the sacrifice; afterwards they eat, who are called, and now, go up, for at this time ye find him.’
[14] And they go up in to the city; they are coming in to the midst of the city, and lo, Samuel is coming out to meet them, to go up to the high place;
[15] and Jehovah had uncovered the ear of Samuel one day before the coming of Saul, saying,
[16] ‘At this time tomorrow, I send unto thee a man out of the land of Benjamin-and thou hast anointed him for leader over My people Israel, and he hath saved My people out of the hand of the Philistines; for I have seen My people, for its cry hath come in unto Me.’
[17] When Samuel hath seen Saul, then hath Jehovah answered him, ‘Lo, the man of whom I have spoken unto thee; this one doth restrain My people.’
[18] And Saul draweth nigh to Samuel in the midst of the gate, and saith, ‘Declare, I pray thee, to me, where is this-the seer’s house?’
[19] And Samuel answereth Saul and saith, ‘I am the seer; go up before me into the high place, and ye have eaten with me to-day, and I have sent thee away in the morning, and all that is in thy heart I declare to thee.
[20] As to the asses which are lost to thee this day three days, set not thy heart to them, for they have been found; and to whom is all the desire of Israel?’ is it not to thee and to all thy father’s house?’
[21] And Saul answereth and saith, ‘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? and why hast thou spoken unto me according to this word?’
[22] And Samuel taketh Saul, and his young man, and bringeth them in to the chamber, and giveth to them a place at the head of those called; and they are about thirty men.
[23] And Samuel saith to the cook, ‘Give the portion which I gave to thee, of which I said unto thee, ‘Set it by thee?’
[24] (and the cook lifteth up the leg, and that which is on it, and setteth before Saul), and he saith, ‘Lo, that which is left; set it before thee-eat, for to this appointed season it is kept for thee, saying, The people I have called;’ and Saul eateth with Samuel on that day.
[25] And they come down from the high place to the city, and he speaketh with Saul on the roof.
[26] And they rise early, and it cometh to pass, at the ascending of the dawn, that Samuel calleth unto Saul, on the roof, saying, ‘Rise, and I send thee away;’ and Saul riseth, and they go out, both of them-he and Samuel, without.
[27] They are going down in the extremity of the city, and Samuel hath said unto Saul, ‘Say to the young man that he pass on before us (and he passeth on), and thou, stand at this time, and I cause thee to hear the word of God.’