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。」
When Saul had returned from following the Philistines, he was told, “Behold, David is in the wilderness of En Gedi.”
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。
Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men on 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。
He came to the sheep pens by the way, where there was a cave; and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were staying in the innermost parts 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。
David’s men said to him, “Behold, the day of which Yahweh said to you, ‘Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you.’” Then David arose and cut off the skirt of Saul’s robe secretly.
5 隨後大衛心中自責，因為割下掃羅的衣襟；
Afterward, David’s heart struck 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。」
He said to his men, “Yahweh forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, Yahweh’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, since he is Yahweh’s anointed.”
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。
So David checked his men with these words, and didn’t allow them to rise against Saul. 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 afterward, and went out of the cave and cried after Saul, saying, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth, and showed respect.
9 大衛對掃羅說：「你為何聽信人的讒言，說大衛想要害你呢？
David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to men’s words, saying, ‘Behold, David seeks to harm you’?
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, today your eyes have seen how Yahweh had delivered you today into my hand in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you. I said, ‘I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for he is Yahweh’s anointed.’
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。
Moreover, my father, behold, yes, see the skirt of your robe in my hand; for in that I cut off the skirt of your robe and didn’t kill you, know and see that there is neither evil nor disobedience in my hand. I have not sinned against you, though you hunt 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。
May Yahweh judge between me and you, and may Yahweh avenge me of you; but my hand will not be on you.
13 古人有句俗語說：『惡事出於惡人。』我卻不親手加害於你。
As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘Out of the wicked comes wickedness;’ but my hand will not be on you.
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。
Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom do you pursue? A dead dog? A 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。」
May Yahweh therefore be judge, and give sentence between me and you, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of your 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，
It came to pass, when David had finished speaking these words to Saul, that Saul said, “Is that your voice, my son David?” 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。
He said to David, “You are more righteous than I; for you have done good to me, whereas I have done evil to you.
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。
You have declared today how you have dealt well with me, because when Yahweh had delivered me up into your hand, you didn’t 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 finds his enemy, will he let him go away unharmed? Therefore may Yahweh reward you good for that which you have done to me today.
20 我也知道你必要作王，以色列的國必堅立在你手裏。
Now, behold, I know that you will surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your 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 Yahweh that you will not cut off my offspring after me, and that you will 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。
David swore to Saul. Saul went home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.
