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1 Samuel 16:16
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A Distressing Spirit Troubles Saul

14 aBut the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and ba distressing spirit from the Lord troubled him.  
15 And Saul’s servants said to him, “Surely, a distressing spirit from God is troubling you.
16 Let our master now command your servants, who are before you, to seek out a man who is a skillful player on the harp. And it shall be that he will aplay it with his hand when the1 distressing spirit from God is upon you, and you shall be well.”  
17 So Saul said to his servants,1 “Provide me now a man who can play well, and bring him to me.”  
18 Then one of the servants answered and said, “Look, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a mighty man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a handsome person; and athe Lord is with him.”  
19 Therefore Saul sent messengers to Jesse, and said, “Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.”
20 And Jesse atook a donkey loaded with bread, a skin of wine, and a young goat, and sent them by his son David to Saul.  
21 So David came to Saul and astood before him. And he loved him greatly, and he became his armorbearer.  
22 Then Saul sent to Jesse, saying, “Please let David stand before me, for he has found favor in my sight.”
23 And so it was, whenever the spirit from God was upon Saul, that David would take a harp and play it with his hand. Then Saul would become refreshed and well, and the distressing spirit would depart from him.
Verse Comparison: 1 Samuel 16:16

<< 1 Samuel 16:15   1 Samuel 16:17 >>

American Standard Version
Let our lord now command thy servants, that are before thee, to seek out a man who is a skilful player on the harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well.

Amplified® Bible
Let our lord now command your servants here before you to find a man who plays skillfully on the lyre; and when the evil spirit from God is upon you, he will play it, and you will be well.

Contemporary English Version
"Your Majesty, let us go and look for someone who is good at playing the harp. He can play for you whenever the evil spirit from God bothers you, and you'll feel better."

Darby English Version
Let our lord now speak; thy servants are before thee: they shall seek out a man, a skilful player on a harp; and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well.

Good News Bible
So give us the order, sir, and we will look for a man who knows how to play the harp. Then when the evil spirit comes on you, the man can play his harp, and you will be all right again."

King James Version
Let our lord now command thy servants, which are before thee, to seek out a man, who is a cunning player on an harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well.

New American Standard Bible
"Let our lord now command your servants who are before you. Let them seek a man who is a skillful player on the harp; and it shall come about when the evil spirit from God is on you, that he shall play {the harp} with his hand, and you will be well."

New International Version
Let our lord command his servants here to search for someone who can play the harp. He will play when the evil spirit from God comes upon you, and you will feel better."

New King James Version
Let our master now command your servants, who are before you, to seek out a man who is a skillful player on the harp. And it shall be that he will play it with his hand when the distressing spirit from God is upon you, and you shall be well.”

N.A.S.B. in E-Prime
"Let our lord now command your servants who are before you. Let them seek a man who plays skillfully on the harp; and it shall come about when the evil spirit from God comes upon you, that he shall play the harp with his hand, and you will become well."

Revised Standard Version
Let our lord now command your servants, who are before you, to seek out a man who is skilful in playing the lyre; and when the evil spirit from God is upon you, he will play it, and you will be well."

Young's Literal Translation
let our lord command, we pray thee, thy servants before thee, they seek a skilful man, playing on a harp, and it hath come to pass, in the spirit of sadness `from' God being upon thee, that he hath played with his hand, and `it is' well with thee.'

New English Translation
Let our lord instruct his servants who are here before you to look for a man who knows how to play the lyre. Then whenever the evil spirit from God comes upon you, he can play the lyre1 and you will feel better.”2


<< 1 Samuel 16:15   1 Samuel 16:17 >>

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