撒母耳記上 9
1 本雅明支派有個人名叫克士，他是阿彼耳的兒子，阿彼耳是責洛爾的兒子，責洛爾是貝苛辣特的兒子，貝苛辣特是阿非亞的兒子；這本雅明人是個英勇的戰士。
Now 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 Aphiach, the son of a Benjamite, a mighty man of valor.
2 他有個兒子名叫撒烏耳，魁梧英俊，在以色列人中沒有比他更俊美的，比所有的人高出一肩。
And he had a son whose name was Saul, young and handsome; and there was not a man among the children of Israel handsomer than he: from his shoulders and upward he was taller than any of the people.
3 撒烏耳的父親克士有幾匹母驢，走迷了路，克士遂對兒子撒烏耳說：「你帶一個僕人，起身去尋找那些驢。」
And there were lost the asses belonging to Kish, Saul's father; and Kish said to Saul his son, Do take with thee one of the servants, and arise, go seek the asses.
4 他們走過了厄弗辣因山地和沙里地方，卻沒有找著；又過了沙阿林地方，也沒有找到；最後經過耶米尼地方，也不見蹤影。
And he passed through the mountain of Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalisha, but they found [them] not; then they passed through the land of Sha'alim, and there was nothing there; and he passed through the land of Benjamin, but they found them not.
5 當他們來到族弗地方時，撒烏耳對跟隨自己的僕人說：「我們回去罷! 免得我父親不掛念驢，反而掛慮我們。」
When they were come in the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant that was with him, Come, and let us return; lest my father relinquish the care for the asses, and become anxious for us.
6 僕人回答他說：「請看，這城裏有一位天主的人，很受敬重；凡他說的，必定應驗；現在我們往那裏去，或許他會告訴我們應走的路。」
And the other said unto him, Behold now, a man of God is in this city, and the man is honored; all that he ever saith will surely come to pass: now let us go thither; perhaps he can tell us our way that we should go.
7 撒烏耳回答僕人說：「好! 我們可以去，但是給那人送什麼呢﹖我們袋裏的乾糧已經用盡，沒有禮物可送給天主的人了。我們還有什麼呢﹖」
Then said Saul to his servant, But, behold, if we should go, what shall we bring to the man? for the bread is spent out of our vessels, and there is not a present to bring to the man of God: what have we with us?
8 僕人回答撒烏耳說：「看，我手裏還有四分之一「協刻耳」銀子，你可把它送給天主的人，請他把我們當走的路告訴我們。」
And the servant answered Saul again, and said, Behold, I have here in my hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver; and I will give this to the man of God, that he may tell us our way.
9 撒烏耳對他的僕人說：「你說的對，來，我們去罷! 」他們就往天主的人所住的城裏去了。
In former times it was custom in Israel, that when a man went to inquire of God, he said thus, Come, and let us go as far as the seer; for the Prophet of the present day was in former times called a Seer.
10 當他們上那城的山坡時，遇見一些少女出來打水，就問她們說：「先見者在這裏嗎﹖」──
Then said Saul to his servant, Thy word is good: come, let us go. So they went unto the city where the man of God was.
11 過去在以色列，如果有人去求問天主，常說：「來，我們到先見者那裏去! 」現今所稱的「先知，」就是從前稱的「先見者。」──
As they went up the ascent to the city, they found some maidens going out to draw water; and they said unto them, Is the seer here?
12 她們回答說：「是。看，先見者就在你們前面，剛剛進了城，因為今天百姓要在高丘上舉行祭獻。
And they answered them, and said, He is; behold, he is before you: make haste now, for this day came he to the city; because the people have a sacrifice today on the high-place;
13 你們進了城，在他上到高丘進食以前，一定會遇見他，因為人民在他來以前，不先吃什麼，因他要祝福犧牲，然後賓客纔進食。你們現在上去，立刻會遇見他。」
As soon as ye are come into the city, ye will straightway find him, before yet he can go up to the high-place to eat; for the people will not eat until he be come, because he always blesseth the sacrifice; afterward eat those that are invited; and now go you up; for just today will ye surely find him.
14 他們於是上到那城，剛進城門，看，撒慕爾就朝著他們出來，要上高丘去。
And they went up into the city. They were entering into the city, when, behold, Samuel came out toward them, to go up to the high-place.
15 在撒烏耳來的前一日，上主曾啟示給撒慕爾說：「
And the Lord had revealed to Samuel's ear one day before Saul's coming, saying,
16 明日大約這時，我打發一個本雅明地方的人到你這裏來，你要給他傅油，立他當我民以色列的首領，他要從培肋舍特人手中拯救我的百姓，因我已看到我百姓的痛苦，他們的哀號已上達於我。」
About this time tomorrow will I send unto thee a man out of the land of Benjamin, and thou shalt anoint him as chief over my people Israel, that he may save my people out of the hand of the Philistines; for I have beheld my people, because their cry is come unto me.
17 撒慕爾一看見撒烏耳，上主就提醒他說：「看，這就是我曾對你提及的那人，他要統治我的百姓。」
And when Samuel saw Saul, the Lord addressed him, Behold, the man of whom I spoke to thee, This one shall rule over my people.
18 撒烏耳走到撒慕爾跟前，在城門洞中問他說：「請你告訴我，先見者的家在那裏﹖」
And Saul drew near to Samuel within the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, where is the house of the seer.
19 撒慕爾回答撒烏耳說：「我就是先見者；請你在我以前上高丘去；你們今天要同我一起吃飯，明天早晨我打發你去，你心中所懷念的事，我會全告訴你。
And Samuel answered Saul, and said, I am the seer: go up before me unto the high-place, and ye shall eat with me today; and I will let thee go in the morning, and all that is in thy heart will I tell thee.
20 至於三天以前你所失的母驢，不必擔心，都已找著了。此外，以色列所有的至寶是誰的呢﹖豈不是你和你父親全家的嗎! 」
And as for thy asses that were lost unto thee this day three days ago, do not set thy heart on them; for they have been found. And to whom belongeth all that is desirable in Israel? Is it not to thee, and to all thy father's house?
21 撒烏耳回答說：「我豈不是一個本雅明人，屬於以色列最小的一支派嗎﹖我的家族在本雅明家族中，不也是最小的嗎﹖你怎能向我說出這樣的話﹖」
And Saul answered and said, Am not I a son of Benjamin, of one of the smallest tribes of Israel? and [is not] my family the least of all the families of the tribes of Benjamin? wherefore then hast thou spoken to me such thing?
22 以後撒慕爾將撒烏耳和他的僕人領到餐廳內，叫他們坐在賓客的首位上，賓客約有三十人。
And Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them into the apartment; and he assigned them a place at the head of the invited guests, who were about thirty persons.
23 撒慕爾對廚師說：「將我交給你的那份，即對你說：暫且留下的那一份，給我拿來。」
And Samuel said unto the cook, Hand here the portion which I gave thee, of which I said unto thee, Put it away by thee.
24 廚師遂把後腿和肥尾端上來，放在撒烏耳面前。撒慕爾對他說：「看，擺在你面前的，是預先特意保留的一份，請吃罷! 因為特意為你保留下的，叫你好同賓客一起吃。」撒烏耳那天就同撒慕爾一起吃了飯。
And the cook took up the shoulder, and that which was on it, and set it before Saul; and he said, Behold what is left! set it before thee, and eat; for unto this time hath it been kept from thee, since I said, I have invited the people. And Saul ate with Samuel on that day.
25 他們從高丘下到城裏，有人在露台上給撒烏耳舖好了臥榻，
And they went down from the high-place into the city, and he spoke with Saul upon the roof.
26 撒烏耳就睡在那裏。天一亮，撒慕爾就叫醒在露台上的撒烏耳，對他說：「起來，讓我送你走。」撒烏耳起來，他們二人，即他和撒慕爾，就往城外走；
And they got up early; and it came to pass when the morning-dawn arose, that Samuel called Saul to the roof, saying, Up, that I may send thee away. And Saul arose, and they went out, both of them, he and Samuel, into the street.
27 當他們下到城邊時，撒慕爾對撒烏耳說：「你吩咐僕人，叫他在我們前面先走，你暫且停留一會，我要把天主話告訴你。」
As they were going down to the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Say to the servant that he pass on before us, —and he passed on, —but thou remain standing a while, and I will let thee hear the word of God.
