1 In those days, the Philistines gathered their armies to wage war against Israel, and Achish said to David, "You surely know that you and your men will go out with me in the army."

And it came to pass in those days, that the Philistines gathered their armies together for warfare, to fight with Israel. And Achish said unto David, Know thou assuredly, that thou shalt go out with me to battle, thou and thy men.

2 David replied to Achish, "Then you will know what your servant can accomplish." Achish said to David, "Very well, I will make you my bodyguard for life."

And David said to Achish, Surely thou shalt know what thy servant can do. And Achish said to David, Therefore will I make thee keeper of mine head for ever.

3 Now Samuel had died, and all Israel mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, his hometown. Meanwhile, Saul had removed the mediums and spiritists from the land.

Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and buried him in Ramah, even in his own city. And Saul had put away those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land.

4 The Philistines gathered and camped at Shunem, while Saul assembled all Israel, and they camped at Gilboa.

And the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and pitched in Shunem: and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they pitched in Gilboa.

5 When Saul saw the Philistine camp, he was terrified, and his heart trembled greatly.

And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled.

6 Saul inquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him, neither by dreams, nor by the Urim, nor through the prophets.

And when Saul enquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.

7 Then Saul said to his servants, "Find me a woman who is a medium, so I can go and consult her." His servants replied, "There is a woman who is a medium at En-dor."

Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor.

8 So Saul disguised himself by wearing other clothes. He went, accompanied by two men, and they came to the woman at night. Saul said, "Consult a spirit for me and bring up for me the one I name to you."

And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me him up, whom I shall name unto thee.

9 The woman said to him, "Surely you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off the mediums and spiritists from the land. Why are you setting a trap for my life to bring about my death?"

And the woman said unto him, Behold, thou knowest what Saul hath done, how he hath cut off those that have familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land: wherefore then layest thou a snare for my life, to cause me to die?

10 Saul swore to her by the LORD, "As surely as the LORD lives, you will not be punished for this."

And Saul sware to her by the LORD, saying, As the LORD liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing.

11 Then the woman asked, "Whom shall I bring up for you?" Saul answered, "Bring up Samuel for me."

Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto thee? And he said, Bring me up Samuel.

12 When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice and said to Saul, "Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!"

And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice: and the woman spake to Saul, saying, Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Saul.

13 The king said to her, "Do not be afraid. What do you see?" The woman said to Saul, "I see a spirit coming up out of the earth."

And the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what sawest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth.

14 Saul asked her, "What does he look like?" She replied, "An old man is coming up, and he is wrapped in a robe." Then Saul knew it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground in reverence.

And he said unto her, What form is he of? And she said, An old man cometh up; and he is covered with a mantle. And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground, and bowed himself.

15 Samuel said to Saul, "Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?" Saul answered, "I am deeply distressed. The Philistines are waging war against me, and God has turned away from me. He no longer answers me, not by prophets or by dreams. Therefore, I have called upon you to tell me what I should do."

And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up? And Saul answered, I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest make known unto me what I shall do.

16 Samuel said, "Why do you consult me, now that the LORD has turned away from you and has become your enemy?

Then said Samuel, Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing the LORD is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy?

17 The LORD has done as he spoke through me. He has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor, to David.

And the LORD hath done to him, as he spake by me: for the LORD hath rent the kingdom out of thine hand, and given it to thy neighbour, even to David:

18 Because you did not obey the voice of the LORD or carry out his fierce wrath against Amalek, the LORD has done this to you today.

Because thou obeyedst not the voice of the LORD, nor executedst his fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore hath the LORD done this thing unto thee this day.

19 Moreover, the LORD will deliver Israel along with you into the hands of the Philistines. Tomorrow, you and your sons will be with me, and the LORD will also give the army of Israel into the hands of the Philistines.

Moreover the LORD will also deliver Israel with thee into the hand of the Philistines: and to morrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me: the LORD also shall deliver the host of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.

20 Immediately Saul fell full length on the ground, paralyzed with fear because of Samuel's words. There was no strength left in him, for he had not eaten anything all day and all night.

Then Saul fell straightway all along on the earth, and was sore afraid, because of the words of Samuel: and there was no strength in him; for he had eaten no bread all the day, nor all the night.

21 When the woman came to Saul and saw that he was greatly distressed, she said to him, "Behold, your servant has obeyed you. I have taken my life in my hands and done as you requested.

And the woman came unto Saul, and saw that he was sore troubled, and said unto him, Behold, thine handmaid hath obeyed thy voice, and I have put my life in my hand, and have hearkened unto thy words which thou spakest unto me.

22 Now please listen to your servant and let me set a piece of bread before you to eat, so you may have strength when you go on your way."

Now therefore, I pray thee, hearken thou also unto the voice of thine handmaid, and let me set a morsel of bread before thee; and eat, that thou mayest have strength, when thou goest on thy way.

23 But he refused and said, "I will not eat." However, his servants together with the woman urged him, and he listened to them. He got up from the ground and sat on the bed.

But he refused, and said, I will not eat. But his servants, together with the woman, compelled him; and he hearkened unto their voice. So he arose from the earth, and sat upon the bed.

24 The woman had a fattened calf in the house. She hurried to slaughter it. Then she took flour, kneaded it, and baked unleavened bread.

And the woman had a fat calf in the house; and she hasted, and killed it, and took flour, and kneaded it, and did bake unleavened bread thereof:

25 She served it to Saul and his servants, and they ate. Afterward, they got up and left that night.

And she brought it before Saul, and before his servants; and they did eat. Then they rose up, and went away that night.