9. The woman said, “Why are you trying to trick me and get me killed? You know King Saul has got rid of everyone who talks to the spirits of the dead!”
10. Saul replied, “I swear by the living Lord that nothing will happen to you because of this.”
11. “Who do you want me to bring up?” she asked.“Bring up the ghost of Samuel,” he answered.
12. When the woman saw Samuel, she screamed. Then she turned to Saul and said, “You've tricked me! You're the king!”
13. “Don't be afraid,” Saul replied. “Just tell me what you see.”She answered, “I see a spirit rising up out of the ground.”
14. “What does it look like?”“It looks like an old man wearing a robe.”Saul knew it was Samuel, so he bowed down low.
15. “Why are you bothering me by bringing me up like this?” Samuel asked.“I'm terribly worried,” Saul answered. “The Philistines are about to attack me. God has turned his back on me and won't answer any more by prophets or by dreams. What should I do?”
16. Samuel said:If the Lord has turned away from you and is now your enemy, don't ask me what to do.
17. I've already told you: the Lord has sworn to take the kingdom from you and give it to David. And that's just what he's doing!
18. When the Lord was angry with the Amalekites, he told you to destroy them, but you didn't do it. That's why the Lord is doing this to you.
19. Tomorrow the Lord will let the Philistines defeat Israel's army, then you and your sons will join me down here in the world of the dead.
20. At once, Saul collapsed and lay stretched out on the floor, terrified at what Samuel had said. He was weak because he had not eaten anything since the day before.
21. The woman came over to Saul, and when she saw that he was completely terrified, she said, “Your Majesty, I listened to you and risked my life to do what you asked.
22. Now please listen to me. Let me get you a little something to eat. It will give you strength for your walk back to camp.”