1Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: and David grew stronger and stronger, but the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.
1掃羅家和大衛家之間的戰爭相持很久。大衛家逐漸興盛，掃羅家卻日趨衰微。
2To David were sons born in Hebron: and his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;
2大衛在希伯崙所生的兒子大衛在希伯崙生了幾個兒子：他的長子暗嫩，是耶斯列人亞希暖所生的。
3and his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;
3次子基利押，是作過迦密人拿八的妻子亞比該所生的。三子押沙龍，是基述王達買的女兒瑪迦所生的。
4and the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;
4四子亞多尼雅，是哈及所生的。五子示法提雅，是亞比他所生的。
5and the sixth, Ithream, of Eglah, David’s wife. These were born to David in Hebron.
5六子以特念，是大衛妻子以格拉所生的。這些兒子都是大衛在希伯崙所生的。
6It happened, while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner made himself strong in the house of Saul.
6伊施波設和押尼珥之間的磨擦當掃羅家和大衛家交戰的時候，押尼珥在掃羅家的權勢日漸強大。
7Now Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah: and Ishbosheth said to Abner, “Why have you gone in to my father’s concubine?”
7掃羅有一個妃子，名叫利斯巴，是愛亞的女兒。伊施波設對押尼珥說：“你為甚麼親近我父親的妃子呢？”
8Then was Abner very angry for the words of Ishbosheth, and said, “Am I a dog’s head that belongs to Judah? Today I show kindness to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers, and to his friends, and have not delivered you into the hand of David; and yet you charge me this day with a fault concerning this woman!
8押尼珥因伊施波設的話非常忿怒，說：“我是猶大的狗頭嗎？今天我厚待你的父親掃羅家、他的兄弟和他的朋友，沒有把你交在大衛的手中；可是，今天你竟為了這女人的事來找我的錯！
9God do so to Abner, and more also, if, as Yahweh has sworn to David, I don’t do even so to him;
9我若不按著耶和華向大衛所起誓應許的去行：廢去掃羅家的王國，建立大衛的王位，使他統治以色列和猶大，從但直到別是巴，願 神降罰押尼珥，重重地降罰他。”
10to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beersheba.”
10
11He could not answer Abner another word, because he feared him.
11伊施波設因為懼怕押尼珥，就連一句話也不敢回答他。
12Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, “Whose is the land?” and saying, “Make your alliance with me, and behold, my hand shall be with you, to bring all Israel around to you.”
12押尼珥投誠大衛押尼珥差派使者代表他去見大衛，說：“這地是屬誰的呢？”又說：“你與我立約，我就必幫助你，使全以色列都歸順你。”
13He said, “Good; I will make a treaty with you; but one thing I require of you. That is, you shall not see my face, unless you first bring Michal, Saul’s daughter, when you come to see my face.”
13大衛說：“好！我與你立約。不過，我要求你一件事：你來見我面的時候，首先要把掃羅的女兒米甲帶來，否則你必不得見我的面。”
14David sent messengers to Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, saying, “Deliver me my wife Michal, whom I pledged to be married to me for one hundred foreskins of the Philistines.”
14後來，大衛差派使者去見掃羅的兒子伊施波設，說：“請你把我的妻子米甲還給我，她是我從前用一百個非利士人的包皮聘下的。”
15Ishbosheth sent, and took her from her husband, even from Paltiel the son of Laish.
15於是伊施波設派人去，把米甲從拉億的兒子她丈夫帕鐵那裡接回來。
16Her husband went with her, weeping as he went, and followed her to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go! Return!” and he returned.
16米甲的丈夫與她一起去，跟在她後面，一邊走、一邊哭，一直跟到巴戶琳。押尼珥對他說：“你去吧！回去吧！”他只好回去了。
17Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, “In times past, you sought for David to be king over you.
17押尼珥與以色列的長老商議說：“從前你們希望大衛作你們的王。
18Now then do it; for Yahweh has spoken of David, saying, ‘By the hand of my servant David, I will save my people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their enemies.’”
18現在可以實現了！因為耶和華曾經論到大衛說：‘我要藉著我的僕人大衛的手，把我的子民以色列從非利士人和他們所有敵人的手中拯救出來。’”
19Abner also spoke in the ears of Benjamin: and Abner went also to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel, and to the whole house of Benjamin.
19押尼珥也把這話說給便雅憫人聽，然後又去希伯崙，把以色列人和便雅憫全都同意的一切事說給大衛聽。
20So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. David made Abner and the men who were with him a feast.
20押尼珥帶著二十個人，來到希伯崙見大衛的時候，大衛就為押尼珥和與他同來的人擺設筵席。
21Abner said to David, “I will arise and go, and will gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may reign over all that your soul desires.” David sent Abner away; and he went in peace.
21後來，押尼珥對大衛說：“讓我去把以色列眾人召集到我主我王這裡來，好叫他們與你立約，這樣你就可以照著自己的心願統治所有的人。”於是大衛打發押尼珥回去，他就平平安安地走了。
22Behold, the servants of David and Joab came from a foray, and brought in a great spoil with them: but Abner was not with David in Hebron; for he had sent him away, and he was gone in peace.
22約押疑忌押尼珥那時，大衛的臣僕和約押攻擊敵人回來，帶回許多的戰利品。當時，押尼珥不在希伯崙大衛那裡，因為大衛已經打發他離去，他也平平安安地走了。
23When Joab and all the army who was with him had come, they told Joab, saying, Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he has sent him away, and he is gone in peace.
23約押和跟隨他的全軍一到達，就有人告訴約押，尼珥的兒子押尼珥曾經來見過王。王打發他離去，他已經平平安安地走了。
24Then Joab came to the king, and said, “What have you done? Behold, Abner came to you. Why is it that you have sent him away, and he is quite gone?
24約押進去見王，說：“你作了甚麼事？尼珥的兒子押尼珥來見你，你為甚麼把他送走？現在他已經平平安安地走了。
25You know Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive you, and to know your going out and your coming in, and to know all that you do.”
25你認識尼珥的兒子押尼珥，他來是要欺騙你，是要了解你的起居行動和你所作的一切事。”
26When Joab had come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the well of Sirah; but David didn’t know it.
26約押從大衛那裡出來，就差派使者去追趕押尼珥，使者從西拉的水井那裡把他帶回來。可是，大衛一點都不知道。
27When Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the midst of the gate to speak with him quietly, and struck him there in the body, so that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.
27約押刺殺押尼珥押尼珥回到了希伯崙，約押就拉他到城門旁邊與他密談。約押就在那裡刺透他的肚子，他就死了。這樣，他替自己的兄弟亞撒黑報了血仇。
28Afterward, when David heard it, he said, “I and my kingdom are guiltless before Yahweh forever of the blood of Abner the son of Ner.
28事後大衛聽到了，就說：“關於尼珥的兒子押尼珥的血案，我和我的國家，在耶和華面前永遠是無辜的。
29Let it fall on the head of Joab, and on all his father’s house. Let there not fail from the house of Joab one who has an issue, or who is a leper, or who leans on a staff, or who falls by the sword, or who lacks bread.”
29願這流人血的罪歸到約押的頭上和他父親的全家！又願約押家不斷有患血漏病的、長痲風的、拿拐杖的、倒斃在劍下的和缺乏糧食的。”
30So Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner, because he had killed their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.
30因押尼珥在基遍的戰場上，殺死了他們的兄弟亞撒黑，約押和他的兄弟亞比篩就殺了押尼珥。
31David said to Joab, and to all the people who were with him, Tear your clothes, and clothe yourselves with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. King David followed the bier.
31大衛哀悼押尼珥大衛對約押和與他在一起的眾人說：“你們要撕裂衣服，腰束麻布，在押尼珥面前哀哭！”大衛王也走在棺木後面。
32They buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept.
32他們把押尼珥埋葬在希伯崙。王在押尼珥的墓旁放聲大哭，眾人也都哭了。
33The king lamented for Abner, and said, “Should Abner die as a fool dies?
33王又為押尼珥作了哀歌，說：“難道押尼珥死去，要像愚妄的人死去一樣嗎？
34Your hands were not bound, nor your feet put into fetters. As a man falls before the children of iniquity, so you fell.” All the people wept again over him.
34你的手沒有被繩索綁住，你的腳也沒有被銅鍊鎖住，你倒斃，好像人在暴徒面前倒斃一樣！”於是，眾民又為押尼珥哀哭。
35All the people came to cause David to eat bread while it was yet day; but David swore, saying, “God do so to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or anything else, until the sun goes down.”
35還在白天的時候，眾人都來勸大衛吃點飯；大衛起誓說：“我若在日落以前吃飯或吃甚麼東西，願 神降罰我，重重地降罰我。”
36All the people took notice of it, and it pleased them; as whatever the king did pleased all the people.
36眾人看見了，就都喜悅。王所作的一切，他們都很喜悅。
37So all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to kill Abner the son of Ner.
37那一天眾人和全以色列都知道，殺死尼珥的兒子押尼珥，並不是出於王的意思。
38The king said to his servants, “Don’t you know that there a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel?
38王對他的臣僕說：“你們不知道今天在以色列中，有一位將領和偉人倒斃了嗎？
39I am this day weak, though anointed king; and these men the sons of Zeruiah are too hard for me. May Yahweh reward the evildoer according to his wickedness.”
39今天我雖然受膏為王，但我還是幼弱的。洗魯雅的兩個兒子太強了，非我所能應付。願耶和華照著惡人所行的惡，報應惡人。”