1 Samuel 9
1 Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah, the son of a Benjamite, a mighty man of valour.
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。
2 And he had a son, whose name was Saul, young and goodly, and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people.
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。
3 Now the asses of Kish Saul's father were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son: 'Take now one of the servants with thee, and arise, go seek the asses.'
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。」
4 And he passed through the hill-country of Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalishah, but they found them not; then they passed through the land of Shaalim, and there they were not; and he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they found them not.
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。
5 When they were come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant that was with him: 'Come and let us return; lest my father leave caring for the asses, and become anxious concerning us.'
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。」
6 And he said unto him: 'Behold now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is a man that is held in honour; all that he saith cometh surely to pass; now let us go thither; peradventure he can tell us concerning our journey whereon we go.'
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。」
7 Then said Saul to his servant: 'But, behold, if we go, what shall we bring the man? for the bread is spent in our vessels, and there is not a present to bring to the man of God; what have we?'
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？」
8 And the servant answered Saul again, and said: 'Behold, I have in my hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver, that will I give to the man of God, to tell us our way.' —
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。」（
9 Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, thus he said: 'Come and let us go to the seer'; for he that is now called a prophet was beforetime called a seer. —
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」。）
10 Then said Saul to his servant: 'Well said; come, let us go.' So they went unto the city where the man of God was.
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。
11 As they went up the ascent to the city, they found young maidens going out to draw water, and said unto them: 'Is the seer here?'
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？」
12 And they answered them, and said: 'He is; behold, he is before thee; make haste now, for he is come to-day into the city; for the people have a sacrifice to-day in the high place.
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。
13 As soon as ye are come into the city, ye shall straightway find him, before he go up to the high place to eat; for the people will not eat until he come, because he doth bless the sacrifice; and afterwards they eat that are bidden. Now therefore get you up; for at this time ye shall find him.'
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。」
14 And they went up to the city; and as they came within the city, behold, Samuel came out toward them, to go up to the high place.
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。
15 Now the LORD had revealed unto Samuel a day before Saul came, saying:
掃羅未到的前一日，耶和華已經指示撒母耳說：
16 'To-morrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin, and thou shalt anoint him to be prince over My people Israel, and he shall save My people out of the hand of the Philistines; for I have looked upon My people, because their cry is come unto Me.'
「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。」
17 And when Samuel saw Saul, the LORD spoke unto him: 'Behold the man of whom I said unto thee: This same shall have authority over My people.'
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。」
18 Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said: 'Tell me, I pray thee, where the seer's house is.'
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？」
19 And Samuel answered Saul, and said: 'I am the seer; go up before me unto the high place, for ye shall eat with me to-day; and in the morning I will let thee go, and will tell thee all that is in thy heart.
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。
20 And as for thine asses that were lost three days ago, set not thy mind on them; for they are found. And on whom is all the desire of Israel? Is it not on thee, and on all thy father's house?'
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？」
21 And Saul answered and said: 'Am not I a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? wherefore then speakest thou to me after this manner?'
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？」
22 And Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them into the chamber, and made them sit in the chiefest place among them that were bidden, who were about thirty persons.
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。
23 And Samuel said unto the cook: 'Bring the portion which I gave thee, of which I said unto thee: Set it by thee.'
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。」
24 And the cook took up the thigh, and that which was upon it, and set it before Saul. And Samuel said: 'Behold that which hath been reserved! set it before thee and eat; because unto the appointed time hath it been kept for thee, for I said: I have invited the people.' So Saul did eat with Samuel that day.
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。
25 And when they were come down from the high place into the city, he spoke with Saul upon the housetop.
眾人從邱壇下來進城，撒母耳和掃羅在房頂上說話。
26 And they arose early; and it came to pass about the break of day, that Samuel called to Saul on the housetop, saying: 'Up, that I may send thee away.' And Saul arose, and they went out both of them, he and Samuel, abroad.
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。
27 As they were going down at the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul: 'Bid the servant pass on before us — and he passed on — but stand thou still at this time, that I may cause thee to hear the word of God.'
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。」
