9:1And there was a man of Benjamin, Kish by name, son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son of Aphiah, son of a man of Jemini, strong in might. 9:2And he had a son, Saul by name, choice and good: and there was not a man of the sons of Israel better than he: from the shoulder and upwards he stood out above all the people. 9:3Now the she-asses of Kish, Saul's father, had been lost: and Kish said to Saul his son: "Take with you one of the servants, and rising up go, and look for the she-asses." 9:3And when they had passed through the hill-country of Ephraim and through the land of Shalishah, and had not found them, they passed also through the land of Shaalim, and they were not there: and also through the land of Jemini, and they did not find them at all.
9:5And when they had come into the land of Zuph, Saul said to the servant who was with him: "Come and let us go back, lest perhaps my father has left off the she-asses, and is anxious for us." 9:6He said to him: "Look, there is a man of God in this city, a renowned man: everything which he says comes about without doubt. 9:6Now therefore let us go there, if perhaps he may tell us about our journey, on account of which we have come." 9:7And Saul said to his servant: "Look, we will go: what shall we bring to the man of God? 9:7The bread has run out in our bags, and we do not have a little present to give to the man of God, nor anything else."
9:8Again the servant answered Saul, and said: "Look, there has been found in my hand the fourth part of a stater of silver: let us give it to the man of God, so that he may tell us our way." 9:9(Formerly in Israel each one going to consult God used to speak thus: "Come, and let us go to the seer." 9:9For he who is called a prophet today was formerly called a seer.) And Saul said to his servant: "Your word is very good. 9:10Come, let us go." 9:10And they went into the city in which the man of God was. 9:11And as they were going up the slope of the city, they found girls going out to draw water, and they said to them: "Is the seer here?"
9:12They, answering, said to them: "He is here: look, before you, hurry now: for today he has come into the city, because there is a sacrifice of the people today on the high place. 9:13Entering the city, you will find him at once before he goes up to the high place to eat, for the people will not eat until he comes: because he himself blesses the victim, and afterwards those who have been invited eat. 9:13Now therefore go up, because today you will find him." 9:14And they went up into the city. 9:14And as they were walking in the middle of the city, Samuel appeared, going out to meet them, to go up to the high place.
9:15Now the Lord had revealed it to Samuel's ear one day before Saul came, saying: "At this very hour which is now, tomorrow I will send a man to you from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him leader over my people Israel: and he will save my people from the hand of the Philistines, because I have looked upon my people: for their cry has come to me." 9:17And when Samuel had looked at Saul, the Lord said to him: "Look, the man of whom I had spoken to you: this one will rule over my people." 9:18And Saul approached Samuel in the middle of the gate, and said: "Tell me, I pray, where is the house of the seer."
9:19And Samuel answered Saul, saying: "I am the seer: go up before me to the high place, so that you may eat with me today, and I will send you away in the morning: and all things which are in your heart I will tell you. 9:20And about the she-asses which you lost three days ago, do not be anxious, because they have been found. 9:20And whose will all the best things of Israel be? 9:20Is it not for you and for all the house of your father?" 9:21And Saul, answering, said: "Am I not a son of Jemini, of the least tribe of Israel, and my kindred the last among all the families of the tribe of Benjamin?
9:21Why then have you spoken this word to me?" 9:22So Samuel, taking Saul and his servant, led them into the dining-hall, and gave them a place at the head of those who had been invited: for there were about thirty men. 9:23And Samuel said to the cook: "Give the portion which I gave you, and ordered you to set aside by you." 9:24And the cook lifted up the shoulder, and put it before Saul. 9:24And Samuel said: "Look, what has been left: put it before you, and eat, because it has been kept for you on purpose when I invited the people." 9:24And Saul ate with Samuel on that day.
9:25And they went down from the high place into the town, and he spoke with Saul on the roof: and Saul spread a bed on the roof, and slept. 9:26And when they had risen in the morning, and it was now growing light, Samuel called Saul on the roof, saying: "Rise, and I will send you away." 9:26And Saul rose: and both went out, he, that is, and Samuel. 9:27And as they were going down at the furthest part of the city, Samuel said to Saul: "Tell the servant to go ahead of us and pass on: but you, stop for a little while, so that I may tell you the word of the Lord."