撒母耳記上 11

1 大約過了一個月，阿孟人納哈士上來圍困基肋阿得的雅貝士，雅貝士所有的居民對納哈士說：「你與我們立約，我們就服事你。」

Then about a month after this, Nahash the Ammonite came up and put his forces in position for attacking Jabesh-gilead: and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, Make an agreement with us and we will be your servants.

2 阿孟人納哈士回答他們說：「在這條件下，我纔與你們立約：就是剜出你們各人的右眼，我要藉此羞辱全以色列。」

And Nahash the Ammonite said to them, I will make an agreement with you on this condition, that all your right eyes are put out; so that I may make it a cause of shame to all Israel.

3 雅貝士的長老回答他說：「請讓我們休戰七天，我們派人到以色列全境去，如果沒有人來救我們，我們就向你投降。

Then the responsible men of Jabesh said to him, Give us seven days, so that we may send men to every part of Israel: and then, if no one comes to our help, we will come out to you.

4 使者到了撒烏耳的基貝亞，就把這事講給民眾聽，民眾遂放聲大哭。

So they sent representatives to Saul's town Gibeah, and these gave the news to the people: and all the people gave themselves to weeping.

5 那時撒烏耳正跟著牛從田間回來，便問說：「民眾有什麼事，如此號淘大哭﹖」人們就把雅貝士人的話講給他聽。

Now Saul came from the field, driving the oxen before him; and he said, Why are the people weeping? And they gave him word of what the men of Jabesh had said.

6 撒烏耳一聽說這些話，上主的神便降在他身上，遂勃然大怒，

And at their words, the spirit of God came on Saul with power, and he became very angry.

7 立即牽了一對牛來，剖分成塊，託使者分送到以色列全境說：「凡不隨從撒烏耳如撒慕爾出征的，也必這樣對待他的牛! 」上主的驚嚇降在民眾身上，因而他們好像一個人一齊出征。

And he took two oxen and, cutting them up, sent them through all the land of Israel by the hand of runners, saying, If any man does not come out after Saul and Samuel, this will be done to his oxen. And the fear of the Lord came on the people and they came out like one man.

8 撒烏耳在貝則克檢閱了他們；以色列人共三十萬，猶大人三萬。

And he had them numbered in Bezek: the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand.

9 撒烏耳對來的使者說：「你們這樣對基肋阿得的雅貝士人說：明天太陽正熱時，救援就必達到你們那裏。」使者便回去，向雅貝士人報告，他們都很喜歡。

Then he said to the representatives who had come, Say to the men of Jabesh-gilead, Tomorrow, by the time the sun is high, you will be made safe. And the representatives came and gave the news to the men of Jabesh; and they were glad.

10 雅貝士人遂對阿孟人說：「明天我們向你們投降，你們看著怎樣好，就怎樣對待我們罷!

So the men of Jabesh said, Tomorrow we will come out to you, and you may do to us whatever seems good to you.

11 第二天撒烏耳把民眾分作三隊，在黎明以前衝入了阿孟人營中，擊殺他們一直到日中最熱的時候；剩下的人都逃散了，以至沒有兩人在一起。

Now on the day after, Saul put the people into three bands, and in the morning watch they came to the tents of the Ammonites, and they went on attacking them till the heat of the day: and those who were not put to death were put to flight in every direction, so that no two of them were together.

12 民眾於是對撒慕爾說：「誰曾說過：撒烏耳豈能作我們的君王﹖把這些人交出來，讓我們處死他們! 」

And the people said to Samuel, Who was it who said, Is Saul to be our king? give the men up, so that we may put them to death.

13 撒烏耳回答說：「今天不可處死任何人，因為今天上主在以色列中施行了救恩。」

And Saul said, Not a man is to be put to death today: for today the Lord has made Israel safe.

14 撒慕爾以後對民眾說：「來，我們到基耳加耳去，在那裏重新建立王國。」

Then Samuel said to the people, Come, let us go to Gilgal and there make the kingdom strong in the hands of Saul.

15 民眾便都去了基耳加耳，在那裏於上主面前立撒烏耳為王，並給上主奉獻了和平祭；撒烏耳同全體以色列人舉行了盛大的盛會。

So all the people went to Gilgal; and there in Gilgal they made Saul king before the Lord; and peace-offerings were offered before the Lord; and there Saul and all the men of Israel were glad with great joy.