1Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah, the son of a Benjamite, a mighty man of valor.
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。）
2He had a son, whose name was Saul, an impressive young man; and there was not among the children of Israel a better 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。
3The donkeys of Kish, Saul’s father, were lost. Kish said to Saul his son, “Take now one of the servants with you, and arise, go seek the donkeys.”
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！”
4He passed through the hill country of Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalishah, but they didn’t find them: then they passed through the land of Shaalim, and there they weren’t there: and he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they didn’t find them.
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。
5When they had come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant who was with him, “Come, and let us return, lest my father stop caring about the donkeys, and be anxious 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。”
6He said to him, “See now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is a man who is held in honor. All that he says comes surely to pass. Now let us go there. Perhaps he can tell us concerning our journey whereon we 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 Saul said 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 do we have?”
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？”
8The servant answered Saul again, and said, “Behold, I have in my hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver. I will give that 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(In earlier times in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, thus he said, “Come, and let us go to the seer”; for he who is now called a prophet was before 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 Saul said to his servant, “Well said. Come, let us go.” So they went to 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。
11As they went up the ascent to the city, they found young maidens going out to draw water, and said to 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？”
12They answered them, and said, “He is. Behold, he is before you. Hurry now, for he has come today into the city; for the people have a sacrifice today 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 you have come into the city, you shall immediately find him, before he goes up to the high place to eat; for the people will not eat until he come, because he blesses the sacrifice. Afterwards those who are invited eat. Now therefore go up; for at this time you 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。”
14They went up to the city. As they came within the city, behold, Samuel came out toward them, 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 Yahweh had revealed to Samuel 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：
16“Tomorrow about this time I will send you a man out of the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be prince over my people Israel; and he shall save my people out of the hand of the Philistines: for I have looked on my people, because their cry has come to 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。”
17When Samuel saw Saul, Yahweh said to him, “Behold, the man of whom I spoke to you! this same shall have authority 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, “Please tell me 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？”
19Samuel answered Saul, and said, “I am the seer. Go up before me to the high place, for you shall eat with me today. In the morning I will let you go, and will tell you all that is in your 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。
20As for your donkeys who were lost three days ago, don’t set your mind on them; for they are found. For whom is all that is desirable in Israel? Is it not for you, and for all your 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？”
21Saul answered, “Am I not a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? And my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then do you speak to me like this?”
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？”
22Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them into the guest room, and made them sit in the best place among those who were invited, who 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。
23Samuel said to the cook, “Bring the portion which I gave you, of which I said to you, ‘Set it aside.’”
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。”
24The cook took up the thigh, and that which was on it, and set it before Saul. Samuel said, “Behold, that which has been reserved! Set it before yourself and eat; because for the appointed time has it been kept for you, for I said, ‘I have invited the people.’” So Saul ate 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。
25When they had come down from the high place into the city, he talked with Saul on the housetop.
25他們從邱壇下來，進到城裡；撒母耳和掃羅在房頂上說話。
26They arose early: and it happened about the spring of the day, that Samuel called to Saul on the housetop, saying, “Get up, that I may send you away.” 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。
27As they were going down at the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, “Tell the servant pass on before us” (and he passed on), “but stand still first, that I may cause you to hear 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。”