撒母耳記上 12
1 撒母耳對以色列眾人說：「你們向我所求的，我已應允了，為你們立了一個王；
Samuel said to all Israel, “I have listened to everything you said to me, and I have set a king over you.
2 現在有這王在你們前面行。我已年老髮白，我的兒子都在你們這裏。我從幼年直到今日都在你們前面行。
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 我在這裏，你們要在耶和華和他的受膏者面前給我作見證。我奪過誰的牛，搶過誰的驢，欺負過誰，虐待過誰，從誰手裏受過賄賂因而眼瞎呢？若有，我必償還。」
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 眾人說：「你未曾欺負我們，虐待我們，也未曾從誰手裏受過甚麼。」
They said, “You have not cheated us, oppressed us, or have stolen anything from any man's hand.”
5 撒母耳對他們說：「你們在我手裏沒有找着甚麼，有耶和華和他的受膏者今日為證。」他們說：「願他為證。」
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 撒母耳對百姓說：「從前立摩西、亞倫，又領你們列祖出埃及地的是耶和華。
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 現在你們要站住，等我在耶和華面前對你們講論耶和華向你們和你們列祖所行一切公義的事。
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 從前雅各到了埃及，後來你們列祖呼求耶和華，耶和華就差遣摩西、亞倫領你們列祖出埃及，使他們在這地方居住。
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 他們卻忘記耶和華－他們的上帝，他就把他們付與夏瑣將軍西西拉的手裏，和非利士人並摩押王的手裏。於是這些人常來攻擊他們。
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 他們就呼求耶和華說：『我們離棄耶和華，事奉巴力和亞斯她錄，是有罪了。現在求你救我們脫離仇敵的手，我們必事奉你。』
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 耶和華就差遣耶路‧巴力、比但、耶弗他、撒母耳救你們脫離四圍仇敵的手，你們才安然居住。
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 你們見亞捫人的王拿轄來攻擊你們，就對我說：『我們定要一個王治理我們。』其實耶和華－你們的上帝是你們的王。
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 現在，你們所求所選的王在這裏。看哪，耶和華已經為你們立王了。
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 你們若敬畏耶和華，事奉他，聽從他的話，不違背他的命令，你們和治理你們的王也都順從耶和華－你們的上帝就好了。
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 倘若不聽從耶和華的話，違背他的命令，耶和華的手必攻擊你們，像從前攻擊你們列祖一樣。
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 現在你們要站住，看耶和華在你們眼前要行一件大事。
Even now present yourself and see this great thing which Yahweh will do before your eyes.
17 這不是割麥子的時候嗎？我求告耶和華，他必打雷降雨，使你們又知道又看出，你們求立王的事是在耶和華面前犯大罪了。」
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 於是撒母耳求告耶和華，耶和華就在這日打雷降雨，眾民便甚懼怕耶和華和撒母耳。
So Samuel called to Yahweh; and that same day Yahweh sent thunder and rain. Then all the people greatly feared Yahweh and Samuel.
19 眾民對撒母耳說：「求你為僕人們禱告耶和華－你的上帝，免得我們死亡；因為我們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 撒母耳對百姓說：「不要懼怕！你們雖然行了這惡，卻不要偏離耶和華，只要盡心事奉他。
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 若偏離耶和華去順從那不能救人的虛神是無益的。
Do not turn away after empty things that cannot profit or rescue you, because they are useless.
22 耶和華既喜悅選你們作他的子民，就必因他的大名不撇棄你們。
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 至於我，斷不停止為你們禱告，以致得罪耶和華。我必以善道正路指教你們。
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 只要你們敬畏耶和華，誠誠實實地盡心事奉他，想念他向你們所行的事何等大。
Only fear Yahweh and serve him in truth with all your heart. Consider the great things he has done for you.
25 你們若仍然作惡，你們和你們的王必一同滅亡。」
But if you persist in doing evil, both you and your king will be destroyed.”
