7 Saul then 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 at En-dori who is a medium.”j

8 Saul disguised himselfk by putting on different clothes and set out with two of his men. They came to the woman at night, and Saul said, “Consult a spirit for me.l Bring up for me the one I tell you.”m

9 But the woman said to him, “You surely know what Saul has done,n how he has cut off the mediums and spiritists from the land. Why are you setting a trap for me to get me killed?”

10 Then Saul swore to her by the Lord: “As surely as the Lord lives, no punishment will come to youB from this.”

11 “Who is it that you want me to bring up for you?” the woman asked.

“Bring up Samuel for me,” he answered.

12 When the woman saw Samuel, she screamed, and then she asked Saul, “Why did you deceive me? You are Saul!”

13 But the king said to her, “Don’t be afraid. What do you see?”

“I see a spirit formC coming up out of the earth,” the woman answered.

14 Then Saul asked her, “What does he look like?”

“An old man is coming up,” she replied. “He’s wearing a robe.”o Then Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he knelt low with his face to the ground and paid homage.p

15 “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” Samuel asked Saul.

“I’m in serious trouble,” replied Saul. “The Philistines are fighting against me and God has turned away from me.q He doesn’t answer me anymore,r either through the prophets or in dreams. So I’ve called on you to tell me what I should do.”