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扫罗为父寻驴
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他有一个儿子,名叫扫罗,既年轻又英俊;在以色列人中,没有一个能比他更英俊的。他比人高出一个头。
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扫罗的父亲基士有几头母驴走失了,他就对他的儿子扫罗说:“你带一个仆人,动身去寻找母驴吧!”
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扫罗走遍以法莲山地,又走遍沙利沙地,但他们都没有找到。他们又走遍沙琳地,母驴也不在那里;又走遍便雅悯地,还是找不到。
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求见撒母耳他们到了苏弗地,扫罗对跟随他的仆人说:“来,我们回去吧,恐怕我父亲不为母驴挂心,反而为我们担忧了。”
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仆人对他说:“看哪,这城里有一位神人,很受人敬重,他所说的,都必应验。现在,我们到他那里去吧,也许他会告诉我们当走的路。”
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扫罗对仆人说:“如果我们去,有什么可以送给那人呢?因为我们袋里的食物都已经用尽了,也没有礼物可以送给那神人,我们还有什么呢?”
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仆人回答扫罗:“看哪!我手里有三克银子,可以送给那神人,请他告诉我们应该走的路。”
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从前在以色列中,有人去求问 神的时候,就这样说:“来,我们去见先见吧。”因为今天称为先知的,从前称为先见。
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扫罗对仆人说:“你说的好。来,我们去吧!”于是他们到那神人所住的城里去。
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他们正上山坡要进城的时候,就遇见几个少女出来打水。他们就问那些少女:“先见在这里吗?”
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那些少女回答他们说:“在这里!他就在你们前面,现在快去吧!他今天正到这城里来,因为今天在邱?上,人民有献祭的事。
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你们一进城,在他登上邱坛吃祭物之前,必遇见他。因为他未到,众人不能先吃,他必先为祭物祝谢,然后客人才可以吃。现在你们上去吧!今天,你们必可遇见他。”
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耶和华预先指示撒母耳于是二人上那城去;他们正进城的时候,撒母耳就迎着他们出来,要上邱坛去。
15Now Yahweh had revealed to Samuel a day before Saul came, saying,
15原来,在扫罗来到的前一天,耶和华已经启示撒母耳说:
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“明天大约这个时候,我要差派一个人从便雅悯地到你那里去,你要膏立他作我子民以色列人的领袖。他要拯救我的子民脱离非利士人的手。我眷顾了我的子民,因为他们的哀求已经达到我这里。”
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撒母耳看见了扫罗,耶和华就对撒母耳说:“你看,这就是我对你所说的那人,他要统治我的子民。”
18Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, “Please tell me where the seer’s house is.”
18撒母耳与扫罗会面扫罗在城门口,走近撒母耳跟前,说:“请告诉我先见的家在哪里?”
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撒母耳回答扫罗:“我就是先见,请你在我前面上邱坛去。今天你们要与我一同吃饭,明天早晨我就送你回去。你心里的一切事,我都会告诉你。
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至于你前三天失了的母驴,你不必为它们担心,因为都已经找到了。以色列众人所渴求的是谁呢?不是你和你的父家吗?”
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扫罗回答:“我不是以色列众支派中最微小的便雅悯人吗?我的家族不是便雅悯支派的家族中最微小的吗?你为什么对我说这样的话呢?”
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撒母耳把扫罗和扫罗的仆人领进了客厅,使他们坐在客人中的首位;那里约有三十人。
23Samuel said to the cook, “Bring the portion which I gave you, of which I said to you, ‘Set it aside.’”
23撒母耳对厨师说:“我交给你,吩咐你存放好的那一份祭肉,现在可以拿来。”
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厨师就把那条腿肉拿上来,摆在扫罗面前。撒母耳说:“这是为你留下的,现在摆在你面前,请吃吧!因为这是我邀请众人的时候,特地为这时刻保留的。”于是,当天扫罗就与撒母耳一同吃饭。
25When they had come down from the high place into the city, he talked with Saul on the housetop.
25他们从邱坛下来,进到城里;撒母耳和扫罗在房顶上说话。
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他们清早起来;天快亮的时候,撒母耳在房顶上呼叫扫罗说:“起来吧,我要送你回去。”扫罗就起来。于是,他与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他们下到城边的时候,撒母耳对扫罗说:“吩咐你的仆人先走。(仆人就先走了。)你暂且留在这里,我好把 神的话讲给你听。”