< 撒母耳記上 1 >
1 從前在辣瑪有個厄弗辣因山地的族弗人,名叫厄耳卡納,是耶洛罕的兒子,──耶洛罕是厄里胡的兒子,厄里胡是托胡的兒子,托胡是厄弗辣因人族弗的兒子。──
Now there was a certain man of Ramathaimzophim, of mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite:
2 他有兩個妻子:一個名叫亞納,一個名叫培尼納;培尼納有孩子,亞納卻沒有。
And he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.
3 這人每年從本城上史羅去朝拜祭獻萬軍的上主。那裏有厄里的兩個兒子曷弗尼和丕乃哈斯做上主的司祭。
And this man went up from his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice to the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, were there.
4 有一天,厄耳卡納獻祭後,就把祭品給了自己的妻子培尼納和她的兒女好分,
And when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions:
5 只給了亞納一分;他雖喜愛亞納,無奈上主封閉了她的子宮;
But to Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the LORD had closed up her womb.
6 就因上主封閉了亞納的子宮,她的情敵便羞辱刺激她,使她憤怒。
And her adversary also provoked her greatly, to make her fret, because the LORD had closed up her womb.
7 年年都是這樣:每次她上上主的聖殿時,總是這樣刺激亞納。──亞納傷心痛哭,不肯吃飯。
And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of the LORD, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat.
8 她的丈夫厄耳卡納對她說:「亞納,你為什麼哭,不肯用飯﹖為什麼傷心﹖難道我對你不比十個兒子還好嗎﹖」
Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? am not I better to thee than ten sons?
9 在史羅吃喝完了,亞納就起來走到上主面前;那時司祭厄里正對著上主聖殿門口,坐在椅子上。
So Hannah rose after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the LORD.
And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the LORD, and wept bitterly.
11 且許願說:「萬軍的上主,若你垂顧你婢女的痛苦,記念我,不忘你的婢女,賜你婢女生一個男孩,我就將他一生獻於上主,一輩子不給他剃頭。」
And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thy handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thy handmaid, but wilt give to thy handmaid a son, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.
12 亞納在上主面前祈禱很久,厄里曾注意到她的嘴唇;
And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli observed her mouth.
13 亞納只是心內訴說,嘴唇微動,卻聽不到她的聲音,厄里卻以為她喝醉了,
Now Hannah, spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she was drunk.
14 就對她說:「你要醉到幾時﹖消消你身上的酒氣罷! 」
And Eli said to her, How long wilt thou be drunk? put away thy wine from thee.
15 亞納答說:「我主! 你想錯了;我是個遭遇不幸的女人,清酒烈酒總不沾唇;我是在上主面前傾吐我的心意。
And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD.
16 望你不要以為你的婢女是個壞人,因為我由於極度的痛苦悲傷,纔一直傾訴到現在。」
Count not thy handmaid for a wicked woman: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I been speaking.
17 厄里回答她說:「你平安的去罷! 願以色列的天主賜給你求他的事。」
Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.
18 她答說:「願你的婢女在你眼內蒙恩。」這女人就回了旅舍,吃完飯,不再愁容滿面。
And she said, Let thy handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and ate, and her countenance was no more sad.
19 次日早,他們起來,朝拜了上主,就回了辣瑪本家。厄耳卡納認識了妻子亞納,上主也記念了她,
And they rose in the morning early, and worshipped before the LORD, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the LORD remembered her.
20 亞納就懷了孕,生了一個兒子,給他起名叫撒慕爾,說:「因為是我向上主求得了他。」約過了一年,
Therefore it came to pass, when the time had arrived after Hannah had conceived, that she bore a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the LORD.
21 她的丈夫厄耳卡納和全家上史羅去,向上主奉獻年祭,並還所許的願,
And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer to the LORD the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.
22 亞納卻沒有上去,因她對丈夫說:「等孩子斷了乳,我要帶他去,將他奉獻給上主,以後他永住在那裏。」
But Hannah went not up; for she said to her husband, I will not go up until the child is weaned, and then I will bring him, that he may appear before the LORD, and there abide for ever.
23 她的丈夫厄耳卡納對她說:「就照你的意思辦罷! 等他斷了乳再說;惟願上主實現你的話! 」於是他的妻子留在家裏,乳養孩子,直到斷了乳。
And Elkanah her husband said to her, Do what seemeth to thee good; tarry until thou hast weaned him; only the LORD establish his word. So the woman abode, and nursed her son until she weaned him.
24 斷乳後,她便帶著小孩和一頭三歲的牛,一「厄法」麵和一皮囊酒,來到史羅上主的聖殿;孩子還很小。
And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bulls, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him to the house of the LORD in Shiloh: and the child was young.
And they slew a bull, and brought the child to Eli.
26 對他說:「我主,請聽:我主,就如你活著那樣真實,我就是曾在你旁邊祈求上主的那個婦人,
And she said, O my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying to the LORD.
27 那時我為得到這孩子祈禱,上主就賞賜了我所懇求的,
For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him:
28 所以我現在把他獻於上主,他一生是屬於上主的。」亞納便把他留在上主那裏。
Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there.