撒母耳記上 9
1 有一個便雅憫人，名叫基士，是便雅憫人亞斐亞的玄孫，比歌拉的曾孫，洗羅的孫子，亞別的兒子，是個大能的勇士。
And there was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, the son of a Benjaminite, a mighty man of wealth.
2 他有一個兒子，名叫掃羅，又健壯、又俊美，在以色列人中沒有一個能比他的；身體比眾民高過一頭。
And he had a son whose name was Saul, choice and comely; and there was not among the children of Israel a comelier person than he; from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people.
3 掃羅的父親基士丟了幾頭驢，他就吩咐兒子掃羅說：「你帶一個僕人去尋找驢。」
And the asses of Kish Saul's father were lost; and Kish said to Saul his son, Take, I pray, one of the young men with thee, and arise, go seek the asses.
4 掃羅就走過以法蓮山地，又過沙利沙地，都沒有找着；又過沙琳地，驢也不在那裏；又過便雅憫地，還沒有找着。
And he passed through mount Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalishah, but they found [them] not; and they passed through the land of Shaalim, and they were not there; and they passed through the land of Benjamin, and they found [them] not.
5 到了蘇弗地，掃羅對跟隨他的僕人說：「我們不如回去，恐怕我父親不為驢掛心，反為我們擔憂。」
They had come to the land of Zuph when Saul said to his servant that was with him, Come and let us return; lest my father give up the asses, and be anxious about us.
6 僕人說：「這城裏有一位神人，是眾人所尊重的，凡他所說的全都應驗。我們不如往他那裏去，或者他能將我們當走的路指示我們。」
And he said to him, Behold now, a man of God is in this city, and the man is held in honour; all that he says comes surely to pass. Let us now go thither: perhaps he will shew us the way that we should go.
7 掃羅對僕人說：「我們若去，有甚麼可以送那人呢？我們囊中的食物都吃盡了，也沒有禮物可以送那神人，我們還有甚麼沒有？」
And Saul said to his servant, But if we go, what shall we bring the man? for the bread is spent in our vessels, and we have no present to give to the man of God: what have we?
8 僕人回答掃羅說：「我手裏有銀子一舍客勒的四分之一，可以送那神人，請他指示我們當走的路。」（
And the servant answered Saul again and said, Behold, I have here at hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver; that will I give to the man of God, to tell us our way.
9 從前以色列中，若有人去問上帝，就說：「我們問先見去吧！」現在稱為「先知」的，從前稱為「先見」。）
(In former time in Israel, when a man went to ask counsel of God, he said, Come and let us go to the seer; for he that is now called a Prophet was in former time called a Seer.)
10 掃羅對僕人說：「你說的是，我們可以去。」於是他們往神人所住的城裏去了。
And Saul said to his servant, Well said: come, let us go. So they went to the city where the man of God was.
11 他們上坡要進城，就遇見幾個少年女子出來打水，問她們說：「先見在這裏沒有？」
As they went up the ascent to the city, they met maidens going forth to draw water; and they said to them, Is the seer here?
12 女子回答說：「在這裏，他在你們前面。快去吧！他今日正到城裏，因為今日百姓要在邱壇獻祭。
And they answered them and said, He is; behold, he is before thee: make haste now, for he came to-day to the city; for the people have a sacrifice to-day in the high place.
13 在他還沒有上邱壇吃祭物之先，你們一進城必遇見他；因他未到，百姓不能吃，必等他先祝祭，然後請的客才吃。現在你們上去，這時候必遇見他。」
As soon as ye come into the city, ye shall straightway find him, before he goes up to the high place to eat; for the people eat not until he has come, because he blesses the sacrifice; afterwards they eat that are invited. And now go up; for this very day shall ye find him.
14 二人就上去；將進城的時候，撒母耳正迎着他們來，要上邱壇去。
And they went up into the city. As they were coming into the midst of the city, behold, Samuel was coming out towards them, to go up to the high place.
15 掃羅未到的前一日，耶和華已經指示撒母耳說：
Now Jehovah had apprised Samuel one day before Saul came, saying,
16 「明日這時候，我必使一個人從便雅憫地到你這裏來，你要膏他作我民以色列的君。他必救我民脫離非利士人的手；因我民的哀聲上達於我，我就眷顧他們。」
To-morrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin, and thou shalt anoint him prince over my people Israel; and he will save my people out of the hand of the Philistines; for I have looked upon my people, because their cry is come unto me.
17 撒母耳看見掃羅的時候，耶和華對他說：「看哪，這人就是我對你所說的，他必治理我的民。」
And as Samuel saw Saul, Jehovah answered him, Behold the man of whom I spoke to thee! this man shall rule over my people.
18 掃羅在城門裏走到撒母耳跟前，說：「請告訴我，先見的寓所在哪裏？」
And Saul drew near to Samuel in the midst of the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, where the seer's house is.
19 撒母耳回答說：「我就是先見。你在我前面上邱壇去，因為你們今日必與我同席；明日早晨我送你去，將你心裏的事都告訴你。
And Samuel answered Saul and said, I am the seer: go up before me to the high place, and ye shall eat with me to-day; and to-morrow I will let thee go, and will tell thee all that is in thy heart.
20 至於你前三日所丟的那幾頭驢，你心裏不必掛念，已經找着了。以色列眾人所仰慕的是誰呢？不是仰慕你和你父的全家嗎？」
And as for the asses that thou didst lose three days ago, set not thy heart on them; for they are found. And on whom is all the desire of Israel [set]? Is it not on thee, and on all thy father's house?
21 掃羅說：「我不是以色列支派中至小的便雅憫人嗎？我家不是便雅憫支派中至小的家嗎？你為何對我說這樣的話呢？」
And Saul answered and said, Am not I a Benjaminite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel, and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? and why dost thou speak such words to me?
22 撒母耳領掃羅和他僕人進了客堂，使他們在請來的客中坐首位；客約有三十個人。
And Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them into the chamber, and gave them a place at the head of them that were invited; and they were about thirty persons.
23 撒母耳對廚役說：「我交給你收存的那一分祭肉現在可以拿來。」
And Samuel said to the cook, Bring the portion that I gave thee, of which I said to thee, Set it by thee.
24 廚役就把收存的腿拿來，擺在掃羅面前，撒母耳說：「這是所留下的，放在你面前。吃吧！因我請百姓的時候，特意為你存留這肉到此時。」 當日，掃羅就與撒母耳同席。
And the cook took up the shoulder, and what was on it, and set [it] before Saul. And he said, Behold that which has been reserved! set it before thee, eat; for against the set time has it been kept for thee, since I said, I will invite the people. So Saul ate with Samuel that day.
25 眾人從邱壇下來進城，撒母耳和掃羅在房頂上說話。
And they came down from the high place into the city, and he spoke with Saul upon the roof.
26 次日清早起來，黎明的時候，掃羅在房頂上。撒母耳呼叫他說：「起來吧，我好送你回去。」掃羅就起來，和撒母耳一同出去。
And they arose early; and when it was about the dawning of the day, Samuel called to Saul on the roof, saying, Arise, that I may send thee away. And Saul arose, and they went out both of them, he and Samuel, into the street.
27 二人下到城角，撒母耳對掃羅說：「要吩咐僕人先走（僕人就先走了）；你且站在這裏，等我將上帝的話傳與你聽。」
As they were going down to the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Tell the servant to pass on before us (and he passed on), but stand thou still now, that I may cause thee to hear the word of God.
