²¹So David came to Saul and entered his service.^r He^s loved him greatly and he became Saul’s armor bearer.^t ²²Then Saul sent word to Jesse, saying, “Please let David stand before me, because he has found favor in my sight.”^u ²³So whenever the evil spirit from God came to Saul, David would take the stringed instrument and play it with his hand. Then it would bring relief^v for Saul; he would feel better^w and the evil spirit would depart from him.

Read in Logos

Footnotes

rLiterally “stood before him”
sThat is, Saul
tLiterally “he became for him a carrier of weapons”
uLiterally “in my eyes”
vLiterally “it would be relieved”
wLiterally “it would be good for him”

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

And David came to Saul and entered his service. And Saul loved him greatly, and he became his armor-bearer. And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, “Let David remain in my service, for he has found favor in my sight.” And whenever the harmful spirit from God was upon Saul, David took the lyre and played it with his hand. So Saul was refreshed and was well, and the harmful spirit departed from him.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

David came to Saul and entered his service. Saul liked him very much, and David became one of his armor-bearers. Then Saul sent word to Jesse, saying, “Allow David to remain in my service, for I am pleased with him.”

Whenever the spirit from God came on Saul, David would take up his lyre and play. Then relief would come to Saul; he would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

When David came to Saul and entered his service, Saul loved him very much, and David became his armor-bearer. Then Saul sent word to Jesse: “Let David remain in my service, for he has found favor with me.” Whenever the spirit from God came on Saul, David would pick up his lyre and play, and Saul would then be relieved, feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him.

NLTNew Living Translation

So David went to Saul and began serving him. Saul loved David very much, and David became his armor bearer.

Then Saul sent word to Jesse asking, “Please let David remain in my service, for I am very pleased with him.”

And whenever the tormenting spirit from God troubled Saul, David would play the harp. Then Saul would feel better, and the tormenting spirit would go away.

KJV 1900King James Version

And David came to Saul, and stood before him: and he loved him greatly; and he became his armourbearer. And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David, I pray thee, stand before me; for he hath found favour in my sight. And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.

Public Domain