1 Samuel 16
1 Now the LORD said to Samuel, “How long are you going to mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem, for I have selected from his sons a king for Myself.”
耶和華對撒母耳說：「我既厭棄掃羅作以色列的王，你為他悲傷要到幾時呢？你將膏油盛滿了角，我差遣你往伯利恆人耶西那裏去；因為我在他眾子之內，預定一個作王的。」
2 “How can I go?” Samuel asked. “Saul will hear of it and kill me!” The LORD answered, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.’
撒母耳說：「我怎能去呢？掃羅若聽見，必要殺我。」耶和華說：「你可以帶一隻牛犢去，就說：『我來是要向耶和華獻祭。』
3 Then invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you are to do. You are to anoint for Me the one I indicate.”
你要請耶西來吃祭肉，我就指示你所當行的事。我所指給你的人，你要膏他。」
4 So Samuel did what the LORD had said and went to Bethlehem. When the elders of the town met him, they trembled and asked, “Do you come in peace?”
撒母耳就照耶和華的話去行。到了伯利恆，那城裏的長老都戰戰兢兢地出來迎接他，問他說：「你是為平安來的嗎？」
5 “In peace,” he replied. “I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Consecrate yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.
他說：「為平安來的，我是給耶和華獻祭。你們當自潔，來與我同吃祭肉。」撒母耳就使耶西和他眾子自潔，請他們來吃祭肉。
6 When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and said, “Surely here before the LORD is His anointed.”
他們來的時候，撒母耳看見以利押，就心裏說，耶和華的受膏者必定在他面前。
7 But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or height, for I have rejected him; the LORD does not see as man does. For man sees the outward appearance, but the LORD sees the heart.”
耶和華卻對撒母耳說：「不要看他的外貌和他身材高大，我不揀選他。因為，耶和華不像人看人：人是看外貌；耶和華是看內心。」
8 Then Jesse called Abinadab and presented him to Samuel, who said, “The LORD has not chosen this one either.”
耶西叫亞比拿達從撒母耳面前經過，撒母耳說：「耶和華也不揀選他。」
9 Next Jesse presented Shammah, but Samuel said, “The LORD has not chosen this one either.”
耶西又叫沙瑪從撒母耳面前經過，撒母耳說：「耶和華也不揀選他。」
10 Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel told him, “The LORD has not chosen any of these.”
耶西叫他七個兒子都從撒母耳面前經過，撒母耳說：「這都不是耶和華所揀選的。」
11 And Samuel asked him, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest,” Jesse replied, “but he is tending the sheep.” “Send for him,” Samuel replied. “For we will not sit down to eat until he arrives.”
撒母耳對耶西說：「你的兒子都在這裏嗎？」他回答說：「還有個小的，現在放羊。」撒母耳對耶西說：「你打發人去叫他來；他若不來，我們必不坐席。」
12 So Jesse sent for his youngest son and brought him in. He was ruddy, with beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance. And the LORD said, “Rise and anoint him, for he is the one.”
耶西就打發人去叫了他來。他面色光紅，雙目清秀，容貌俊美。耶和華說：「這就是他，你起來膏他。」
13 So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day forward. Then Samuel set out and went to Ramah.
撒母耳就用角裏的膏油，在他諸兄中膏了他。從這日起，耶和華的靈就大大感動大衛。撒母耳起身回拉瑪去了。
14 After the Spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul, a spirit of distress from the LORD began to torment him.
耶和華的靈離開掃羅，有惡魔從耶和華那裏來擾亂他。
15 Saul’s servants said to him, “Surely a spirit of distress from God is tormenting you.
掃羅的臣僕對他說：「現在有惡魔從上帝那裏來擾亂你。
16 Let our lord command your servants here to seek out someone who can skillfully play the harp. Whenever the spirit of distress from God is upon you, he is to play it, and you will be well.”
我們的主可以吩咐面前的臣僕，找一個善於彈琴的來，等上帝那裏來的惡魔臨到你身上的時候，使他用手彈琴，你就好了。」
17 And Saul commanded his servants, “Find me someone who plays well, and bring him to me.”
掃羅對臣僕說：「你們可以為我找一個善於彈琴的，帶到我這裏來。」
18 One of the servants answered, “I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the harp. He is a mighty man of valor, a warrior, eloquent and handsome, and the LORD is with him.”
其中有一個少年人說：「我曾見伯利恆人耶西的一個兒子善於彈琴，是大有勇敢的戰士，說話合宜，容貌俊美，耶和華也與他同在。」
19 So Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.”
於是掃羅差遣使者去見耶西，說：「請你打發你放羊的兒子大衛到我這裏來。」
20 And Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a skin of wine, and one young goat, and sent them to Saul with his son David.
耶西就把幾個餅和一皮袋酒，並一隻山羊羔，都馱在驢上，交給他兒子大衛，送與掃羅。
21 When David came to Saul and entered his service, Saul admired him greatly, and David became his armor-bearer.
大衛到了掃羅那裏，就侍立在掃羅面前。掃羅甚喜愛他，他就作了掃羅拿兵器的人。
22 Then Saul sent word to Jesse, saying, “Let David remain in my service, for I am pleased with him.”
掃羅差遣人去見耶西，說：「求你容大衛侍立在我面前，因為他在我眼前蒙了恩。」
23 And whenever the spirit from God came upon Saul, David would pick up his harp and play, and Saul would become well, and the spirit of distress would depart from him.
從上帝那裏來的惡魔臨到掃羅身上的時候，大衛就拿琴，用手而彈，掃羅便舒暢爽快，惡魔離了他。
