1 Samuel 24
1 When Saul returned from chasing the Philistines, it was reported to him, “David is in the Desert of En-gedi.”
撒烏耳追擊培肋舍特人回來，有人告訴他說：「達味現今藏在因革狄曠野」。
2 So Saul took three thousand specially-picked men from all Israel and went searching for David and his men in the area around Wild Goats' Rocks.
撒烏耳就由全以色列民中，選拔了三千壯丁，到「野山羊巖」間去，搜捕達味和跟隨他的人。
3 As Saul passed the sheep pens on the way, there was a cave, and he went in to relieve himself. David and his men were hiding deep inside the cave.
撒烏耳走到路旁的羊圈前，那裏有一個山洞，他就進去便溺，那時，達味和他的人正藏在山洞深處。
4 David's men said to him, “Today's the day the Lord promised you when he told you, ‘Listen, I'm going to hand over your enemy to you, so you can do to him whatever you want.’” Then David crept up quietly and cut a piece from the edge of Saul's robe.
達味的人對他說：「今天是上主對你所說的那一天：看，我要將你的敵人交在你手中，任憑你處置他」。達味就起來，悄悄割下一塊撒烏耳所披外氅的衣邊。
5 But afterwards David felt really bad because he'd cut off a piece of Saul's robe.
事後達味為了割去撒烏耳外氅上的衣邊，心中感覺不安。
6 He told his men, “May the Lord prevent me from doing anything like this to my master, the Lord's anointed one. I will never attack him, for he is the Lord's anointed one.”
就對自己的人說：「為了上主，我決不能這樣作。我對我主，對上主的受傅者，決不能伸手加害，因為他是上主的受傅者」。
7 He reprimanded his men and didn't allow them to attack Saul. Saul stood up and went on his way.
達味說這話，是為阻止他的人起來殺害撒烏耳。以後，撒烏耳起來，走出山洞，上了原路。
8 A little later David came out of the cave and shouted, “My master the king!” When Saul looked around, David bowed down with his face to the ground.
達味在他後面喊說：「我主，大王! 」撒烏耳回頭向後看，見達味俯首至地，叩拜他。
9 “Why do you pay attention to people who say, ‘Watch out, David wants to harm you’?” David asked.
達味對撒烏耳說：「你為什麼聽信人言，說：達味設計害你﹖
10 “Just look! You've seen with your own eyes today that the Lord handed you over to me in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I showed you compassion, and said, ‘I refuse to attack my master, for he is the Lord's anointed one.’
今天你親眼見到，上主如何在山洞裏，把你交在手中；但是我不願殺你，我憐恤了你，我說：我不應伸手加害我主，因為他是上主的受傅者。
11 Take a look, my father! You see this piece of your robe I'm holding. Yes, I did I cut it off, but I didn't kill you. Now you can see for yourself and you can be sure that I have done nothing evil or rebellious. I have not sinned against you, but you are hunting me down, trying to kill me.
看，你外氅的一塊衣邊在我手內! 我只割下你外氅的衣邊，沒有殺你，從此你可知道：在我手中沒有邪惡，也沒有罪過。我原沒有得罪你，你卻千方百計地要我的命。
12 May the Lord decide between you and me as to who of us is right, and may the Lord punish you, but I myself will never try to harm you.
願上主在我與你之間施行審判! 只願上主替我報復你，我的手卻不願加害你。
13 As the old saying goes, ‘From the wicked comes wickedness,’ but I myself will never try to harm you.
就如古老的格言說說：『邪惡出惡人。』可是我的手決不加害你。
14 Who is the king of Israel coming after? Who are you chasing? A dead dog! Just a flea!
以色列的君王出來追捕誰呢﹖豈不是追捕一隻死狗，一隻跳蚤!
15 May the Lord decide and choose between you and me. May he pay attention to my case and support it; may he save me from you.”
望上主做判官，在我與你之間施行裁判! 望衪受理，替我伸冤，救我脫離你的手」。
16 After David finished saying this, Saul asked, “Is that you speaking, David my son?” and he wept out loud.
達味對撒烏耳說完這些話，撒烏耳就說：「我兒達味，這是你的聲音嗎﹖」
17 He told David, “You are a better person than I am, because you have repaid me with good, but I have repaid you with evil.
撒烏耳便放聲大哭，然後對達味說：「你比我正義．因為你以善對我，我竟以惡報你!
18 Today you have demonstrated how well you have treated me—for when the Lord handed me over to you, you didn't kill me.
你今日對我行了一件極大的善事，因為上主原把我交在你手中，你卻沒有殺我。
19 For if a man caught hold of his enemy, would he let him escape unharmed? The Lord reward you well for how you've treated me today.
人若遇見了自己的仇人，豈能讓他平安回去﹖願上主報答你，你今日對我所行的善事!
20 Listen, I know you definitely will be king, and your rule over the kingdom of Israel will be secure.
現今我知道你必要作王，以色列的王國在你手中必愈趨穩定。
21 Now swear to me by the Lord that you will not destroy my descendants who follow me, and that you will not wipe out my name from my family line.”
如今求你指著上主對我起誓：不要消滅我的後代子孫，也不要由我父家塗去我的名字」。
22 So David promised this to Saul with an oath. Then Saul went back home, but David and his men returned to the stronghold.
達味於是對撒烏耳發了誓。撒烏耳轉身回家，達味和跟隨他的人仍回了山寨。
