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.
Entonces Samuel le dijo a todo Israel: “He prestado atención a todo lo que me han pedido, y les he dado un rey para que los gobierne.
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.
Ahora su rey es su líder. Yo soy viejo y canoso, y mis hijos están aquí con ustedes. Los he guiado desde que era un niño hasta hoy.
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.”
Aquí estoy ante ustedes. Traigan cualquier acusación que tengan contra mí en presencia del Señor y de su ungido. ¿Me he apropiadodel buey o del asno de alguien? ¿He perjudicado a alguien? ¿He oprimido a alguien? ¿He aceptado un soborno de alguien para hacerme el de la vista gorda? Díganmelo y les pagaré por ello”.
4 They replied, “[No, ] you have never cheated anyone or oppressed anyone or accepted a bribe from anyone.”
“No, nunca nos has engañado ni nos has oprimido”, respondieron, “y nunca has tomado nada de nadie”.
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.”
Samuel les dijo: “El Señor es testigo, y su ungido es testigo hoy, en este caso que les concierne, de que no soy culpable de nada”. “El Señor es testigo”, respondieron.
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].
“El Señor es testigo, el que designó a Moisés y a Aarón”, continuó Samuel. “Él sacó a sus antepasados de la tierra de Egipto.
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.
Así pues, permanezcan aquí mientras les presento, en presencia del Señor, la prueba de todas las cosas buenas que el Señor ha hecho por ustedes y por sus antepasados.
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.
“Después de que Jacob fue a Egipto, sus padres clamaron al Señor por ayuda, y él envió a Moisés y a Aarón para que ayudaran a sus antepasados a salir de Egipto y para establecerse aquí.
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.
Pero se olvidaron del Señor, su Dios, y éste los abandonó en manos de Sísara, comandante del ejército de Hazor, de los filisteos y del rey de Moab, que los atacó.
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.’
“Ellos clamaron al Señor por ayuda y dijeron: ‘Hemos pecado, pues hemos rechazado al Señor y hemos adorado a los baales y a Astoret. Por favor, sálvanos de las manos de nuestros enemigos, y te adoraremos’.
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.
Entonces el Señor envió a Gedeón, Barak, Jefté y Samuel, y los salvó de los enemigos que los rodeaban para que pudieran vivir con seguridad.
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!
“Pero cuando vieron que Nahas, rey de los amonitas, venía a atacarlos, me dijeron: ‘No, queremos nuestro propio rey’, aunque el Señor, su Dios, era su rey.
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.
Así que aquí está el rey que ustedes han elegido, el que pidieron. Miren: ¡el Señor se los entrega ahora como su rey!
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)].
“Si honran al Señor, lo adoran, hacen lo que les dice y no se rebelan contra las instrucciones del Señor, y si tanto ustedes como su rey siguen al Señor su Dios, ¡entonces todo estará bien!
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.
Sin embargo, si se niegan a hacer su voluntad y se rebelan contra las instrucciones del Señor, entonces el Señor estará contra ustedes como lo estuvo contra sus antepasados.
16 “Now stand here quietly and see the great thing that Yahweh is about to do.
“Ahora quédense quietos y observen lo que el Señor va a hacer, ante sus propios ojos.
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.”
¿No es el tiempo de la cosecha de trigo? Pues bien, le pediré al Señor que envíe truenos y lluvia. Entonces se darán cuenta del mal que han hecho ante los ojos del Señor cuando exigieron su propio rey”.
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.
Entonces Samuel oró al Señor, y ese mismo día el Señor envió truenos y lluvia. Todos estaban totalmente asombrados del Señor y de Samuel.
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]!”
“¡Por favor, ruega al Señor tu Dios por nosotros, tus siervos, para que no muramos!”, le rogaron a Samuel. “Porque hemos añadido a todos nuestros pecados la maldad de pedir nuestro propio rey”.
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.
“No tengan miedo”, respondió Samuel. “Aunque en verdad hayan hecho todas estas maldades, no dejen de seguir al Señor, sino dedíquense por completo a adorarlo.
21 Do not abandon [Yahweh] and worship useless idols. They cannot help you or save you [from your enemies], because they are truly useless.
No adoren a ídolos sin valor que los tales no pueden ayudarlos ni salvarlos, porque no son nada.
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.
Lo cierto es que, gracias a la clase de persona que es el Señor, no abandonará a su pueblo, porque se alegró de reclamarlos a ustedes como suyos.
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].
“En cuanto a mí, ¿cómo podría pecar contra el Señor dejando de orar por ustedes? También seguiré enseñándoles el camino del bien y la rectitud.
24 But you must revere Yahweh and serve him wholeheartedly. Never forget all the great things that he has done for you.
Asegúrense de honrar a Dios y adorarlo fielmente, con total dedicación. Piensen en las maravillas que ha hecho por ustedes.
25 But if you keep doing wicked things, he will get rid of you and your king!”
Pero si siguen haciendo lo malo, ustedes y su rey serán eliminados”.
