< 撒母耳記上 28 >
1 那時,非利士人聚集軍旅,要與以色列人打仗。亞吉對大衛說:「你當知道,你和跟隨你的人都要隨我出戰。」
Now it happened that, in those days, the Philistines gathered together their troops, so that they might be prepared for war against Israel. And Achish said to David, “I know now, certainly, that you will go out with me to war, you and your men.”
2 大衛對亞吉說:「僕人所能做的事,王必知道。」亞吉對大衛說:「這樣,我立你永遠作我的護衛長。」
And David said to Achish, “You know now what your servant will do.” And Achish said to David, “And so, I will appoint you to guard my head for all days.”
3 那時撒母耳已經死了,以色列眾人為他哀哭,葬他在拉瑪,就是在他本城裏。掃羅曾在國內不容有交鬼的和行巫術的人。
Now Samuel was dead, and all of Israel mourned for him, and they buried him in Ramah, his city. And Saul took away the magi and soothsayers from the land.
4 非利士人聚集,來到書念安營;掃羅聚集以色列眾人在基利波安營。
And the Philistines gathered together, and they arrived and made camp at Shunem. Then Saul also gathered all of Israel, and he arrived at Gilboa.
And Saul saw the camp of the Philistines, and he was afraid, and his heart was exceedingly terrified.
6 掃羅求問耶和華,耶和華卻不藉夢,或烏陵,或先知回答他。
And he consulted the Lord. But he did not respond to him, neither by dreams, nor by priests, nor by prophets.
7 掃羅吩咐臣僕說:「當為我找一個交鬼的婦人,我好去問她。」臣僕說:「在隱‧多珥有一個交鬼的婦人。」
And Saul said to his servants, “Seek for me a woman having a divining spirit, and I will go to her, and consult through her.” And his servants said to him, “There is a woman having a divining spirit at Endor.”
8 於是掃羅改了裝,穿上別的衣服,帶着兩個人,夜裏去見那婦人。掃羅說:「求你用交鬼的法術,將我所告訴你的死人,為我招上來。」
Therefore, he changed his usual appearance, and he put on other clothes. And he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night. And he said to her, “Divine for me, by your divining spirit, and raise up for me whomever I will tell you.”
9 婦人對他說:「你知道掃羅從國中剪除交鬼的和行巫術的。你為何陷害我的性命,使我死呢?」
And the woman said to him: “Behold, you know how much Saul has done, and how he has wiped away the magi and soothsayers from the land. Why then do you set a trap for my life, so that it will be put to death?”
10 掃羅向婦人指着耶和華起誓說:「我指着永生的耶和華起誓,你必不因這事受刑。」
And Saul swore to her by the Lord, saying, “As the Lord lives, nothing evil will befall you because of this matter.”
11 婦人說:「我為你招誰上來呢?」回答說:「為我招撒母耳上來。」
And the woman said to him, “Whom shall I raise up for you?” And he said, “Raise up for me Samuel.”
12 婦人看見撒母耳,就大聲呼叫,對掃羅說:「你是掃羅,為甚麼欺哄我呢?」
And when the woman had seen Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice, and she said to Saul: “Why have you afflicted me? For you are Saul!”
13 王對婦人說:「不要懼怕,你看見了甚麼呢?」婦人對掃羅說:「我看見有神從地裏上來。」
And the king said to her: “Do not be afraid. What have you seen?” And the woman said to Saul, “I saw gods ascending from the earth.”
14 掃羅說:「他是怎樣的形狀?」婦人說:「有一個老人上來,身穿長衣。」掃羅知道是撒母耳,就屈身,臉伏於地下拜。
And he said to her, “What appearance does he have?” And she said, “An old man ascends, and he is clothed in a cloak.” And Saul understood that it was Samuel. And he bowed himself upon his face on the ground, and he reverenced.
15 撒母耳對掃羅說:「你為甚麼攪擾我,招我上來呢?」掃羅回答說:「我甚窘急;因為非利士人攻擊我,上帝也離開我,不再藉先知或夢回答我。因此請你上來,好指示我應當怎樣行。」
Then Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disquieted me, so that I would be raised up?” And Saul said: “I am greatly distressed. For the Philistines fight against me, and God has withdrawn from me, and he is not willing to heed me, neither by the hand of prophets, nor by dreams. Therefore, I have summoned you, so that you would reveal to me what I should do.”
16 撒母耳說:「耶和華已經離開你,且與你為敵,你何必問我呢?
And Samuel said, “Why do you question me, though the Lord has withdrawn from you, and has crossed over to your rival?
17 耶和華照他藉我說的話,已經從你手裏奪去國權,賜與別人,就是大衛。
For the Lord will do to you just as he spoke by my hand. And he will tear your kingdom from your hand. And he will give it to your neighbor David.
18 因你沒有聽從耶和華的命令;他惱怒亞瑪力人,你沒有滅絕他們,所以今日耶和華向你這樣行,
For you did not obey the voice of the Lord, and you did not carry out the wrath of his fury upon Amalek. For this reason, the Lord has done to you what you are enduring this day.
19 並且耶和華必將你和以色列人交在非利士人的手裏。明日你和你眾子必與我在一處了;耶和華必將以色列的軍兵交在非利士人手裏。」
And the Lord also will give Israel into the hands of the Philistines, along with you. Then tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. But the Lord will also deliver the camp of Israel into the hands of the Philistines.”
20 掃羅猛然仆倒,挺身在地,因撒母耳的話甚是懼怕;那一晝一夜,沒有吃甚麼,就毫無氣力。
And immediately, Saul fell stretched out on the ground. For he was terrified by the words of Samuel. And there was no strength in him. For he had not eaten bread all that day.
21 婦人到掃羅面前,見他極其驚恐,對他說:「婢女聽從你的話,不顧惜自己的性命,遵從你所吩咐的。
And so, the woman entered to Saul, (for he was very troubled) and she said to him: “Behold, your handmaid has obeyed your voice, and I have placed my life in my hand. And I have heeded the words which you spoke to me.
22 現在求你聽婢女的話,容我在你面前擺上一點食物,你吃了,可以有氣力行路。」
And so now, I ask you to heed the voice of your handmaid, and let me place before you a morsel of bread, so that, by eating, you may recover strength, and you may be able to undertake the journey.”
23 掃羅不肯,說:「我不吃。」但他的僕人和婦人再三勸他,他才聽了他們的話,從地上起來,坐在床上。
But he refused, and he said, “I will not eat.” But his servants and the woman urged him, and after some time, heeding their voice, he rose up from the ground, and he sat upon the bed.
24 婦人急忙將家裏的一隻肥牛犢宰了,又拿麵摶成無酵餅烤了,
Now the woman had a fatted calf in the house, and she hurried and killed it. And taking meal, she kneaded it, and she baked unleavened bread.
25 擺在掃羅和他僕人面前。他們吃完,當夜就起身走了。
And she set it before Saul and before his servants. And when they had eaten, they rose up, and they walked all through that night.