1 Samuel 12
1 Then Samuel said this to all the Israeli people: “I have done everything that you told me to do, and I have given/appointed a king to rule you.
撒母耳对以色列众人说：“你们向我所求的，我已应允了，为你们立了一个王；
2 My own sons [are grown up and] with you now, but I have appointed Saul [instead of one of them], and he is now your leader. I am now old, and my hair is gray. I have been your leader ever since I was a boy.
现在有这王在你们前面行。我已年老发白，我的儿子都在你们这里。我从幼年直到今日都在你们前面行。
3 Now tell me, while Yahweh is listening, and while the king whom he has chosen is listening: whose ox or donkey have I stolen [during all those years]? Whom have I cheated? Whom have I oppressed/treated badly? From whom have I accepted a bribe, in order that I would ignore [the evil things he had done]? If I have done any of those things, tell me, and I will pay back what I owe.”
我在这里，你们要在耶和华和他的受膏者面前给我作见证。我夺过谁的牛，抢过谁的驴，欺负过谁，虐待过谁，从谁手里受过贿赂因而眼瞎呢？若有，我必偿还。”
4 They replied, “[No, ] you have never cheated anyone or oppressed anyone or accepted a bribe from anyone.”
众人说：“你未曾欺负我们，虐待我们，也未曾从谁手里受过什么。”
5 Then Samuel said, “Today Yahweh can testify, and the king whom you chose can testify, that I have not taken a bribe from anyone.” They replied, “Yes, Yahweh can say that he knows that is true.”
撒母耳对他们说：“你们在我手里没有找着什么，有耶和华和他的受膏者今日为证。”他们说：“愿他为证。”
6 Samuel continued by saying, “Yahweh is the one who appointed Moses and Aaron [to lead] our ancestors. He is the one who brought them out of Egypt. [And he is the one who will testify that what I am saying is true].
撒母耳对百姓说：“从前立摩西、亚伦，又领你们列祖出埃及地的是耶和华。
7 Now while Yahweh is listening, stand here quietly while I accuse you [and tell you that your requesting a king instead of trusting Yahweh to lead you was wrong]. I will do that by reminding you of all the great miracles that Yahweh performed for you and your ancestors.
现在你们要站住，等我在耶和华面前对你们讲论耶和华向你们和你们列祖所行一切公义的事。
8 [“Many years] after Jacob went to Egypt, our ancestors pleaded to Yahweh to help them. So Yahweh sent Moses and Aaron to them, and they led our ancestors out of Egypt, and eventually they settled in this land.
从前雅各到了埃及，后来你们列祖呼求耶和华，耶和华就差遣摩西、亚伦领你们列祖出埃及，使他们在这地方居住。
9 “But our ancestors soon forgot about Yahweh, their God. So he allowed Sisera, the commander of the army from Hazor, to defeat them. He also allowed the Philistines and the army of the king of Moab to fight our ancestors and defeat them.
他们却忘记耶和华—他们的 神，他就把他们付与夏琐将军西西拉的手里，和非利士人并摩押王的手里。于是这些人常来攻击他们。
10 Then our ancestors pleaded with Yahweh again to help them. They admitted, ‘Yahweh, we have sinned, and we have forsaken you. We have worshiped [idols that represent the god] Baal and [the goddess] Astarte. But if you rescue us from our enemies, we will worship you only.’
他们就呼求耶和华说：‘我们离弃耶和华，事奉巴力和亚斯她录，是有罪了。现在求你救我们脱离仇敌的手，我们必事奉你。’
11 So Yahweh sent men such as Gideon, Barak, Jephthah, and me to save you. And as a result, you did not have to worry about any enemies attacking you.
耶和华就差遣耶路·巴力、比但、耶弗他、撒母耳救你们脱离四围仇敌的手，你们才安然居住。
12 “But now, when king Nahash of Ammon came [with his army] to attack you, [you were afraid. So], you [came to me, and] said, ‘We want a king to rule us,’ even though Yahweh was already your king!
你们见亚扪人的王拿辖来攻击你们，就对我说：‘我们定要一个王治理我们。’其实耶和华—你们的 神是你们的王。
13 So now, look, here is the king whom you have chosen. You asked for a king, and Yahweh has now appointed a king for you.
现在，你们所求所选的王在这里。看哪，耶和华已经为你们立王了。
14 If you will revere Yahweh and if you serve him, and if you listen to what he says and obey what he commands, and if you and the king who rules over you do what Yahweh your God wants you to do, [(things will go well for you all/Yahweh will bless you)].
你们若敬畏耶和华，事奉他，听从他的话，不违背他的命令，你们和治理你们的王也都顺从耶和华—你们的 神就好了。
15 But if you do not listen to what Yahweh says, if you disobey what he commands, then he will punish [MTY] you all, just as he punished our ancestors.
倘若不听从耶和华的话，违背他的命令，耶和华的手必攻击你们，像从前攻击你们列祖一样。
16 “Now stand here quietly and see the great thing that Yahweh is about to do.
现在你们要站住，看耶和华在你们眼前要行一件大事。
17 You know that [RHQ] [it does not rain at this time of the year], during the time when you harvest wheat. But I will ask Yahweh to send thunder [and lightning] and rain today. When he does that, you will realize that Yahweh considers that you have done a very wicked thing by requesting a king.”
这不是割麦子的时候吗？我求告耶和华，他必打雷降雨，使你们又知道又看出，你们求立王的事是在耶和华面前犯大罪了。”
18 Then Samuel prayed to Yahweh, and Yahweh caused it to thunder [and lightning] and rain. So all the people became very afraid of Yahweh and of Samuel.
于是撒母耳求告耶和华，耶和华就在这日打雷降雨，众民便甚惧怕耶和华和撒母耳。
19 They cried out to Samuel, “Pray for us! We have added to our previous sins by requesting a king! Pray to Yahweh, your God, in order that we will not die [because of having done that]!”
众民对撒母耳说：“求你为仆人们祷告耶和华—你的 神，免得我们死亡，因为我们求立王的事正是罪上加罪了。”
20 Samuel replied, “Do not be afraid! You have done this evil thing, but do not turn away from doing the things that Yahweh wants you to do. Instead, serve Yahweh wholeheartedly.
撒母耳对百姓说：“不要惧怕！你们虽然行了这恶，却不要偏离耶和华，只要尽心事奉他。
21 Do not abandon [Yahweh] and worship useless idols. They cannot help you or save you [from your enemies], because they are truly useless.
若偏离耶和华去顺从那不能救人的虚神是无益的。
22 Yahweh decided to make us his people. So he will not abandon us people whom he has chosen, because he would injure his own reputation [of being completely faithful] if he did that.
耶和华既喜悦选你们作他的子民，就必因他的大名不撇弃你们。
23 But as for me, I have solemnly promised that I will not sin against Yahweh by ceasing to pray for you. And I will continue to teach you what things are good and right [for you to do].
至于我，断不停止为你们祷告，以致得罪耶和华。我必以善道正路指教你们。
24 But you must revere Yahweh and serve him wholeheartedly. Never forget all the great things that he has done for you.
只要你们敬畏耶和华，诚诚实实地尽心事奉他，想念他向你们所行的事何等大。
25 But if you keep doing wicked things, he will get rid of you and your king!”
你们若仍然作恶，你们和你们的王必一同灭亡。”
