撒母耳记上 12
1 撒母耳对以色列众人说：“你们向我所求的，我已应允了，为你们立了一个王；
Samuel said to all Israel, “I have listened to everything you said to me, and I have set a king over you.
2 现在有这王在你们前面行。我已年老发白，我的儿子都在你们这里。我从幼年直到今日都在你们前面行。
Now, here is the king walking before you; and I am old and gray; and, my sons are with you. I have walked before you from my youth until today.
3 我在这里，你们要在耶和华和他的受膏者面前给我作见证。我夺过谁的牛，抢过谁的驴，欺负过谁，虐待过谁，从谁手里受过贿赂因而眼瞎呢？若有，我必偿还。”
Here I am; testify against me before Yahweh and before his anointed one. Whose ox have I taken? Whose donkey have I taken? Whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed? From whose hand have I taken a bribe to blind my eyes with? Testify against me, and I will restore it to you.”
4 众人说：“你未曾欺负我们，虐待我们，也未曾从谁手里受过什么。”
They said, “You have not cheated us, oppressed us, or have stolen anything from any man's hand.”
5 撒母耳对他们说：“你们在我手里没有找着什么，有耶和华和他的受膏者今日为证。”他们说：“愿他为证。”
He said to them, “Yahweh is witness against you, and his anointed one is witness today, that you have found nothing in my hand.” They replied, “Yahweh is witness.”
6 撒母耳对百姓说：“从前立摩西、亚伦，又领你们列祖出埃及地的是耶和华。
Samuel said to the people, “It is Yahweh who appointed Moses and Aaron, and who brought your fathers up from the land of Egypt.
7 现在你们要站住，等我在耶和华面前对你们讲论耶和华向你们和你们列祖所行一切公义的事。
Now then, present yourself, so that I may plead with you before Yahweh about all of the righteous deeds of Yahweh, which he did for you and your fathers.
8 从前雅各到了埃及，后来你们列祖呼求耶和华，耶和华就差遣摩西、亚伦领你们列祖出埃及，使他们在这地方居住。
When Jacob came to Egypt, and your ancestors cried out to Yahweh, then Yahweh sent Moses and Aaron, who led your ancestors out of Egypt and they settled in this place.
9 他们却忘记耶和华—他们的 神，他就把他们付与夏琐将军西西拉的手里，和非利士人并摩押王的手里。于是这些人常来攻击他们。
But they forgot Yahweh their God; he sold them into the hand of Sisera, captain of the armies of Hazor, into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab; these all fought against your ancestors.
10 他们就呼求耶和华说：‘我们离弃耶和华，事奉巴力和亚斯她录，是有罪了。现在求你救我们脱离仇敌的手，我们必事奉你。’
They cried out to Yahweh and said, 'We have sinned, because we have forsaken Yahweh and have served the Baals and the Ashtoreths. But now rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and we will serve you.'
11 耶和华就差遣耶路·巴力、比但、耶弗他、撒母耳救你们脱离四围仇敌的手，你们才安然居住。
So Yahweh sent Jerub Baal, Bedan, Jephthah, and Samuel, and gave you victory over your enemies all around you, so that you lived in security.
12 你们见亚扪人的王拿辖来攻击你们，就对我说：‘我们定要一个王治理我们。’其实耶和华—你们的 神是你们的王。
When you saw that Nahash the king of the people of Ammon came against you, you said to me, 'No! Instead, a king must reign over us'—although Yahweh your God, was your king.
13 现在，你们所求所选的王在这里。看哪，耶和华已经为你们立王了。
Now here is the king whom you have chosen, whom you have asked for and whom Yahweh has now appointed as king over you.
14 你们若敬畏耶和华，事奉他，听从他的话，不违背他的命令，你们和治理你们的王也都顺从耶和华—你们的 神就好了。
If you fear Yahweh, serve him, obey his voice, and not rebel against the command of Yahweh, then both you and the king who reigns over you will be followers of Yahweh your God.
15 倘若不听从耶和华的话，违背他的命令，耶和华的手必攻击你们，像从前攻击你们列祖一样。
If you do not obey the voice of Yahweh, but rebel against the commands of Yahweh, then Yahweh's hand will be against you, as it was against your ancestors.
16 现在你们要站住，看耶和华在你们眼前要行一件大事。
Even now present yourself and see this great thing which Yahweh will do before your eyes.
17 这不是割麦子的时候吗？我求告耶和华，他必打雷降雨，使你们又知道又看出，你们求立王的事是在耶和华面前犯大罪了。”
Is it not the wheat harvest today? I will call upon Yahweh, that he may send thunder and rain. Then you will know and see that your wickedness is great, which you have done in the sight of Yahweh, in asking for yourselves a king.”
18 于是撒母耳求告耶和华，耶和华就在这日打雷降雨，众民便甚惧怕耶和华和撒母耳。
So Samuel called to Yahweh; and that same day Yahweh sent thunder and rain. Then all the people greatly feared Yahweh and Samuel.
19 众民对撒母耳说：“求你为仆人们祷告耶和华—你的 神，免得我们死亡，因为我们求立王的事正是罪上加罪了。”
Then all the people said to Samuel, “Pray for your servants to Yahweh your God, so that we do not die. For we have added to all our sins this evil in asking for a king for ourselves.”
20 撒母耳对百姓说：“不要惧怕！你们虽然行了这恶，却不要偏离耶和华，只要尽心事奉他。
Samuel replied, “Do not be afraid. You have done all this evil, but do not turn away from Yahweh, but serve Yahweh with all your heart.
21 若偏离耶和华去顺从那不能救人的虚神是无益的。
Do not turn away after empty things that cannot profit or rescue you, because they are useless.
22 耶和华既喜悦选你们作他的子民，就必因他的大名不撇弃你们。
For the sake of his great name, Yahweh will not reject his people, because it has pleased Yahweh to make you a people for himself.
23 至于我，断不停止为你们祷告，以致得罪耶和华。我必以善道正路指教你们。
As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against Yahweh by ceasing to pray for you. Instead, I will teach you the way that is good and right.
24 只要你们敬畏耶和华，诚诚实实地尽心事奉他，想念他向你们所行的事何等大。
Only fear Yahweh and serve him in truth with all your heart. Consider the great things he has done for you.
25 你们若仍然作恶，你们和你们的王必一同灭亡。”
But if you persist in doing evil, both you and your king will be destroyed.”
