1Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power.
1掃羅為父尋驢有一個便雅憫人，名叫基士，是亞別的兒子。亞別是洗羅的兒子，洗羅是比歌拉的兒子，比歌拉是亞斐亞的兒子。（這便雅憫人是個大財主。）
2And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people.
2他有一個兒子，名叫掃羅，既年輕又英俊；在以色列人中，沒有一個能比他更英俊的。他比人高出一個頭。
3And the asses of Kish Saul's father were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son, Take now one of the servants with thee, and arise, go seek the asses.
3掃羅的父親基士有幾頭母驢走失了，他就對他的兒子掃羅說：“你帶一個僕人，動身去尋找母驢吧！”
4And he passed through mount Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalisha, but they found them not: then they passed through the land of Shalim, and there they were not: and he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they found them not.
4掃羅走遍以法蓮山地，又走遍沙利沙地，但他們都沒有找到。他們又走遍沙琳地，母驢也不在那裡；又走遍便雅憫地，還是找不到。
5And when they were come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant that was with him, Come, and let us return; lest my father leave caring for the asses, and take thought for us.
5求見撒母耳他們到了蘇弗地，掃羅對跟隨他的僕人說：“來，我們回去吧，恐怕我父親不為母驢掛心，反而為我們擔憂了。”
6And he said unto him, Behold now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is an honorable man; all that he saith cometh surely to pass: now let us go thither; peradventure he can show us our way that we should go.
6僕人對他說：“看哪，這城裡有一位神人，很受人敬重，他所說的，都必應驗。現在，我們到他那裡去吧，也許他會告訴我們當走的路。”
7Then said Saul to his servant, But, behold, if we go, what shall we bring the man? for the bread is spent in our vessels, and there is not a present to bring to the man of God: what have we?
7掃羅對僕人說：“如果我們去，有甚麼可以送給那人呢？因為我們袋裡的食物都已經用盡了，也沒有禮物可以送給那神人，我們還有甚麼呢？”
8And the servant answered Saul again, and said, Behold, I have here at hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver: that will I give to the man of God, to tell us our way.
8僕人回答掃羅：“看哪！我手裡有三克銀子，可以送給那神人，請他告訴我們應該走的路。”
9(Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, thus he spake, Come, and let us go to the seer: for he that is now called a Prophet was beforetime called a Seer.)
9從前在以色列中，有人去求問 神的時候，就這樣說：“來，我們去見先見吧。”因為今天稱為先知的，從前稱為先見。
10Then said Saul to his servant, Well said; come, let us go. So they went unto the city where the man of God was.
10掃羅對僕人說：“你說的好。來，我們去吧！”於是他們到那神人所住的城裡去。
11And as they went up the hill to the city, they found young maidens going out to draw water, and said unto them, Is the seer here?
11他們正上山坡要進城的時候，就遇見幾個少女出來打水。他們就問那些少女：“先見在這裡嗎？”
12And they answered them, and said, He is; behold, he is before you: make haste now, for he came to day to the city; for there is a sacrifice of the people to day in the high place:
12那些少女回答他們說：“在這裡！他就在你們前面，現在快去吧！他今天正到這城裡來，因為今天在邱壇上，人民有獻祭的事。
13As soon as ye be come into the city, ye shall straightway find him, before he go up to the high place to eat: for the people will not eat until he come, because he doth bless the sacrifice; and afterwards they eat that be bidden. Now therefore get you up; for about this time ye shall find him.
13你們一進城，在他登上邱壇吃祭物之前，必遇見他。因為他未到，眾人不能先吃，他必先為祭物祝謝，然後客人才可以吃。現在你們上去吧！今天，你們必可遇見他。”
14And they went up into the city: and when they were come into the city, behold, Samuel came out against them, for to go up to the high place.
14耶和華預先指示撒母耳於是二人上那城去；他們正進城的時候，撒母耳就迎著他們出來，要上邱壇去。
15Now the LORD had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying,
15原來，在掃羅來到的前一天，耶和華已經啟示撒母耳說：
16To morrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin, and thou shalt anoint him to be captain over my people Israel, that he may save my people out of the hand of the Philistines: for I have looked upon my people, because their cry is come unto me.
16“明天大約這個時候，我要差派一個人從便雅憫地到你那裡去，你要膏立他作我子民以色列人的領袖。他要拯救我的子民脫離非利士人的手。我眷顧了我的子民，因為他們的哀求已經達到我這裡。”
17And when Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said unto him, Behold the man whom I spake to thee of! this same shall reign over my people.
17撒母耳看見了掃羅，耶和華就對撒母耳說：“你看，這就是我對你所說的那人，他要統治我的子民。”
18Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, where the seer's house is.
18撒母耳與掃羅會面掃羅在城門口，走近撒母耳跟前，說：“請告訴我先見的家在哪裡？”
19And Samuel answered Saul, and said, I am the seer: go up before me unto the high place; for ye shall eat with me to day, and to morrow I will let thee go, and will tell thee all that is in thine heart.
19撒母耳回答掃羅：“我就是先見，請你在我前面上邱壇去。今天你們要與我一同吃飯，明天早晨我就送你回去。你心裡的一切事，我都會告訴你。
20And as for thine asses that were lost three days ago, set not thy mind on them; for they are found. And on whom is all the desire of Israel? Is it not on thee, and on all thy father's house?
20至於你前三天失了的母驢，你不必為牠們擔心，因為都已經找到了。以色列眾人所渴求的是誰呢？不是你和你的父家嗎？”
21And Saul answered and said, Am not I a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? wherefore then speakest thou so to me?
21掃羅回答：“我不是以色列眾支派中最微小的便雅憫人嗎？我的家族不是便雅憫支派的家族中最微小的嗎？你為甚麼對我說這樣的話呢？”
22And Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them into the parlor, and made them sit in the chiefest place among them that were bidden, which were about thirty persons.
22撒母耳把掃羅和掃羅的僕人領進了客廳，使他們坐在客人中的首位；那裡約有三十人。
23And Samuel said unto the cook, Bring the portion which I gave thee, of which I said unto thee, Set it by thee.
23撒母耳對廚師說：“我交給你，吩咐你存放好的那一份祭肉，現在可以拿來。”
24And the cook took up the shoulder, and that which was upon it, and set it before Saul. And Samuel said, Behold that which is left! set it before thee, and eat: for unto this time hath it been kept for thee since I said, I have invited the people. So Saul did eat with Samuel that day.
24廚師就把那條腿肉拿上來，擺在掃羅面前。撒母耳說：“這是為你留下的，現在擺在你面前，請吃吧！因為這是我邀請眾人的時候，特地為這時刻保留的。”於是，當天掃羅就與撒母耳一同吃飯。
25And when they were come down from the high place into the city, Samuel communed with Saul upon the top of the house.
25他們從邱壇下來，進到城裡；撒母耳和掃羅在房頂上說話。
26And they arose early: and it came to pass about the spring of the day, that Samuel called Saul to the top of the house, saying, Up, that I may send thee away. And Saul arose, and they went out both of them, he and Samuel, abroad.
26他們清早起來；天快亮的時候，撒母耳在房頂上呼叫掃羅說：“起來吧，我要送你回去。”掃羅就起來。於是，他與撒母耳二人一起到外面去。
27And as they were going down to the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Bid the servant pass on before us, (and he passed on), but stand thou still a while, that I may show thee the word of God.
27他們下到城邊的時候，撒母耳對掃羅說：“吩咐你的僕人先走。（僕人就先走了。）你暫且留在這裡，我好把 神的話講給你聽。”