1 Samuel 12
1 And Samuel said to all Israel: Behold I have hearkened to your voice in all that you said to me, and have made a king over you.
撒母耳對以色列眾人說：「你們向我所求的，我已應允了，為你們立了一個王；
2 And now the king goeth before you: but I am old and greyheaded: and my sons are with you: having then conversed with you from my youth unto this day, behold here I am.
現在有這王在你們前面行。我已年老髮白，我的兒子都在你們這裏。我從幼年直到今日都在你們前面行。
3 Speak of me before the Lord, and before his anointed, whether I have taken any man’s ox, or ass: If I have wronged any man, if I have oppressed any man, if I have taken a bribe at any man’s hand: and I will despise it this day, and will restore it to you.
我在這裏，你們要在耶和華和他的受膏者面前給我作見證。我奪過誰的牛，搶過誰的驢，欺負過誰，虐待過誰，從誰手裏受過賄賂因而眼瞎呢？若有，我必償還。」
4 And they said: Thou hast not wronged us, nor oppressed us, nor taken ought at any man’s hand.
眾人說：「你未曾欺負我們，虐待我們，也未曾從誰手裏受過甚麼。」
5 And he said to them: The Lord is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that you have not found any thing in my hand. And they said: He is witness.
撒母耳對他們說：「你們在我手裏沒有找着甚麼，有耶和華和他的受膏者今日為證。」他們說：「願他為證。」
6 And Samuel said to the people: It is the Lord, who made Moses and Aaron, and brought our fathers out of the land of Egypt.
撒母耳對百姓說：「從前立摩西、亞倫，又領你們列祖出埃及地的是耶和華。
7 Now therefore stand up, that I may plead in judgment against you before the Lord, concerning all the kindness of the Lord, which he hath shewn to you, and to your fathers:
現在你們要站住，等我在耶和華面前對你們講論耶和華向你們和你們列祖所行一切公義的事。
8 How Jacob went into Egypt, and your fathers cried to the Lord: and the Lord sent Moses and Aaron, and brought your fathers out of Egypt: and made them dwell in this place.
從前雅各到了埃及，後來你們列祖呼求耶和華，耶和華就差遣摩西、亞倫領你們列祖出埃及，使他們在這地方居住。
9 And they forgot the Lord their God, and he delivered them into the hands of Sisara, captain of the army of Hasor, and into the hands of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab, and they fought against them.
他們卻忘記耶和華－他們的上帝，他就把他們付與夏瑣將軍西西拉的手裏，和非利士人並摩押王的手裏。於是這些人常來攻擊他們。
10 But afterwards they cried to the Lord, and said: We have sinned, because we have forsaken the Lord, and have served Baalim and Astaroth: but now deliver us from the hand of our enemies, and we will serve thee.
他們就呼求耶和華說：『我們離棄耶和華，事奉巴力和亞斯她錄，是有罪了。現在求你救我們脫離仇敵的手，我們必事奉你。』
11 And the Lord sent Jerobaal, and Badan, and Jephte, and Samuel, and delivered you from the hand of your enemies round about, and you dwelt securely.
耶和華就差遣耶路‧巴力、比但、耶弗他、撒母耳救你們脫離四圍仇敵的手，你們才安然居住。
12 But seeing that Naas king of the children of Ammon was come against you, you said to me: Nay, but a king shall reign over us: whereas the Lord your God was your king.
你們見亞捫人的王拿轄來攻擊你們，就對我說：『我們定要一個王治理我們。』其實耶和華－你們的上帝是你們的王。
13 Now therefore your king is here, whom you have chosen and desired: Behold the Lord hath given you a king.
現在，你們所求所選的王在這裏。看哪，耶和華已經為你們立王了。
14 If you will fear the Lord, and serve him, and hearken to his voice, and not provoke the mouth of the Lord: then shall both you, and the king who reigneth over you, be followers of the Lord your God.
你們若敬畏耶和華，事奉他，聽從他的話，不違背他的命令，你們和治理你們的王也都順從耶和華－你們的上帝就好了。
15 But if you will not hearken to the voice of the Lord, but will rebel against his words, the hand of the Lord shall be upon you, and upon your fathers.
倘若不聽從耶和華的話，違背他的命令，耶和華的手必攻擊你們，像從前攻擊你們列祖一樣。
16 Now then stand, and see this great thing which the Lord will do in your sight.
現在你們要站住，看耶和華在你們眼前要行一件大事。
17 Is it not wheat harvest today? I will call upon the Lord, and he shall send thunder and rain: and you shall know and see that you yourselves have done a great evil in the sight of the Lord, in desiring a king over you.
這不是割麥子的時候嗎？我求告耶和華，他必打雷降雨，使你們又知道又看出，你們求立王的事是在耶和華面前犯大罪了。」
18 And Samuel cried unto the Lord, and the Lord sent thunder and rain that day.
於是撒母耳求告耶和華，耶和華就在這日打雷降雨，眾民便甚懼怕耶和華和撒母耳。
19 And all the people greatly feared the Lord and Samuel. And all the people said to Samuel: Pray for thy servants to the Lord thy God, that we may not die, for we have added to all our sins this evil, to ask for a king.
眾民對撒母耳說：「求你為僕人們禱告耶和華－你的上帝，免得我們死亡；因為我們求立王的事正是罪上加罪了。」
20 And Samuel said to the people: Fear not, you have done all this evil: but yet depart not from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart.
撒母耳對百姓說：「不要懼怕！你們雖然行了這惡，卻不要偏離耶和華，只要盡心事奉他。
21 And turn not aside after vain things which shall never profit you, nor deliver you, because they are vain.
若偏離耶和華去順從那不能救人的虛神是無益的。
22 And the Lord will not forsake his people for his great name’s sake: because the Lord hath sworn to make you his people.
耶和華既喜悅選你們作他的子民，就必因他的大名不撇棄你們。
23 And far from me be this sin against the Lord, that I should cease to pray for you, and I will teach you the good and right way.
至於我，斷不停止為你們禱告，以致得罪耶和華。我必以善道正路指教你們。
24 Therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in truth and with your whole heart, for you have seen the great works which he hath done among you.
只要你們敬畏耶和華，誠誠實實地盡心事奉他，想念他向你們所行的事何等大。
25 But if you will still do wickedly: both you and your king shall perish together.
你們若仍然作惡，你們和你們的王必一同滅亡。」
