< 撒母耳記上 24 >
1 掃羅追趕非利士人回來,有人告訴他說:「大衛在隱‧基底的曠野。」
And it came to pass when Saul had returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi.
2 掃羅就從以色列人中挑選三千精兵,率領他們往野羊的磐石去,尋索大衛和跟隨他的人。
And Saul took three thousand men, chosen out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats.
3 到了路旁的羊圈,在那裏有洞,掃羅進去大解。大衛和跟隨他的人正藏在洞裏的深處。
And he came to the sheepfolds by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet; and David and his men were abiding in the recesses of the cave.
4 跟隨的人對大衛說:「耶和華曾應許你說:『我要將你的仇敵交在你手裏,你可以任意待他。』如今時候到了!」大衛就起來,悄悄地割下掃羅外袍的衣襟。
And David's men said to him, Behold the day of which Jehovah said to thee, Behold, I will give thine enemy into thy hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good to thee. And David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe secretly.
And it came to pass afterwards that David's heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt.
6 對跟隨他的人說:「我的主乃是耶和華的受膏者,我在耶和華面前萬不敢伸手害他,因他是耶和華的受膏者。」
And he said to his men, Jehovah forbid that I should do this thing to my master, Jehovah's anointed, to stretch forth my hand against him, for he is the anointed of Jehovah.
7 大衛用這話攔住跟隨他的人,不容他們起來害掃羅。掃羅起來,從洞裏出去行路。
And David checked his men with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. And Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on [his] way.
8 隨後大衛也起來,從洞裏出去,呼叫掃羅說:「我主,我王!」掃羅回頭觀看,大衛就屈身、臉伏於地下拜。
David also arose afterwards, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, My lord the king! And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth, and did obeisance.
9 大衛對掃羅說:「你為何聽信人的讒言,說大衛想要害你呢?
And David said to Saul, Why dost thou listen to words of men, saying, Behold, David seeks thy hurt?
10 今日你親眼看見在洞中,耶和華將你交在我手裏;有人叫我殺你,我卻愛惜你,說:『我不敢伸手害我的主,因為他是耶和華的受膏者。』
Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that Jehovah had given thee this day into my hand in the cave; and they bade me kill thee; but [mine eye] spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth my hand against my lord, for he is the anointed of Jehovah.
11 我父啊,看看你外袍的衣襟在我手中。我割下你的衣襟,沒有殺你;你由此可以知道我沒有惡意叛逆你。你雖然獵取我的命,我卻沒有得罪你。
And see, my father, yes, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand. For in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe, and killed thee not, know and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in my hand, and I have not sinned against thee; yet thou liest in wait for my life to take it.
12 願耶和華在你我中間判斷是非,在你身上為我伸冤,我卻不親手加害於你。
Jehovah judge between me and thee, and Jehovah avenge me of thee; but my hand shall not be upon thee.
13 古人有句俗語說:『惡事出於惡人。』我卻不親手加害於你。
As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked; but my hand shall not be upon thee.
14 以色列王出來要尋找誰呢?追趕誰呢?不過追趕一條死狗,一個虼蚤就是了。
After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a single flea.
15 願耶和華在你我中間施行審判,斷定是非,並且鑒察,為我伸冤,救我脫離你的手。」
Jehovah therefore shall be judge, and judge between me and thee, and see, and plead my cause, and do me justice [in delivering me] out of thy hand.
16 大衛向掃羅說完這話,掃羅說:「我兒大衛,這是你的聲音嗎?」就放聲大哭,
And as soon as David had ended speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice and wept.
17 對大衛說:「你比我公義;因為你以善待我,我卻以惡待你。
And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I; for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil.
18 你今日顯明是以善待我;因為耶和華將我交在你手裏,你卻沒有殺我。
And thou hast shewed this day how that thou hast dealt well with me, forasmuch as when Jehovah had delivered me up into thy hand, thou didst not kill me.
19 人若遇見仇敵,豈肯放他平安無事地去呢?願耶和華因你今日向我所行的,以善報你。
For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away? wherefore Jehovah reward thee good for that thou hast done to me this day.
20 我也知道你必要作王,以色列的國必堅立在你手裏。
And now behold, I know that thou shalt certainly be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thy hand.
21 現在你要指着耶和華向我起誓,不剪除我的後裔,在我父家不滅沒我的名。」
Swear now therefore to me by Jehovah, that thou wilt not cut off my seed after me, and that thou wilt not destroy my name out of my father's house.
22 於是大衛向掃羅起誓,掃羅就回家去;大衛和跟隨他的人上山寨去了。
And David swore to Saul. And Saul went home; and David and his men went up to the stronghold.