1 Samuel 9
1 There was a rich and influential man whose name was Kish. He belonged to the tribe descended from Benjamin. Kish was the son of Abiel and the grandson of Zeror. He was from the family of Becorath and from the clan of Aphiah.
Vivía en Benjamín un hombre que se llamaba Kis, hijo de Abiel, hijo de Seror, hijo de Becorat, hijo de Afía, benjaminita. Era hombre valeroso y poderoso,
2 Kish had a son whose name was Saul. He was more handsome than any of the other Israeli men, and he was a head/foot taller than any of the other Israeli men.
y tenía un hijo llamado Saúl, el cual era un joven de tan bella presencia, que entre los hijos de Israel no había hombre más gallardo que él: desde los hombros arriba descollaba sobre todo el pueblo.
3 One day, some of Kish’s female donkeys wandered off. So Kish told Saul, “Take one of my servants with you, and go and search for the donkeys!”
Ahora bien, se habían extraviado las asnas de Kis, padre de Saúl; por lo cual Kis dijo a Saúl su hijo: “Toma contigo uno de los criados y levántate para andar a buscar las asnas.”
4 So Saul did that. He took a servant, and they walked through the hilly area where the descendants of Ephraim lived, and then they went through the areas named Shalishah and Shaalim, and then they went through all the area where the descendants of Benjamin lived, but they could not find the donkeys.
Atravesaron ellos la montaña de Efraím, y recorrieron el país de Salisá, mas no las hallaron. Pasaron también por el país de Saalbim, y tampoco aparecieron. Recorrieron al fin el país de los benjaminitas sin encontrarlas.
5 Finally, they came to the area of Zuph. Then Saul said to the servant, “Let’s go back home. If we do not do that, my father will stop worrying about the donkeys and start worrying about us.”
Habían ya entrado en el país de Suf, cuando Saúl dijo a su criado que le acompañaba: “Vamos a volvernos, no sea que mi padre, dejando ya el cuidado de las asnas, esté intranquilo por nosotros.”
6 But the servant said, “I have another idea [IDM]. There is one of God’s prophets who lives in this town. People respect him very much, because everything he predicts comes true. Let’s go [talk] to him. Perhaps he can tell us where we can go [to find the donkeys].”
El criado le contestó: “Mira, hay en esta ciudad un varón de Dios, hombre muy famoso. Todo cuanto él dice, se cumple sin falta. Ahora, pues, vamos allá; quizá nos diga el camino por el cual debemos ir.”
7 Saul replied to the servant, “If we go talk with him, [we should give a gift to him, but] what can we give to him? We have no more food in our sacks. Do we have anything else to give to him?”
Respondió Saúl a su criado: “Sí, vamos, pero ¿qué podemos llevar a ese hombre? No hay ya pan en nuestras alforjas, y no tenemos regalo que podríamos ofrecer al varón de Dios: ¿qué tenemos?”
8 The servant replied, “Look [at this]! I have a small silver coin. I can give this to him, and then he will tell us where to go [to find the donkeys].”
El criado comenzó a hablar de nuevo y dijo a Saúl: “He aquí que tengo en mi mano un cuarto de siclo de plata; se lo daré al varón de Dios para que nos indique nuestro camino.”
9 Saul said, “Okay, let’s go [talk to him.”] So they went to the town where the prophet lived. As they were going up the hill into the town, they met some young women who were coming out of the town to get some water [from a well]. One of them asked the women, “Is the seer in the town [today]?” [They said that because] previously, if people [in Israel] wanted a message from God, they would say, “Let’s go to the seer,” and people who now are called prophets were at that time called ‘those who see [(visions from God/all that God sees)].’
Antiguamente los hombres de Israel cuando iban a consultar a Dios decían: “Venid, vamos al vidente”; pues al profeta le llamaban anteriormente vidente.
Dijo entonces Saúl a su criado: “Tu propuesta es buena; vamos, pues.” Y se fueron a la ciudad donde vivía el varón de Dios.
Subiendo la cuesta hacia la ciudad encontraron a unas doncellas que salían a sacar agua, y les preguntaron: “¿Está aquí el vidente?”
12 The women replied, “Yes, he is in the town. In fact, he is [walking on the road] ahead of you. He has just arrived in the town, because the people are going to offer a sacrifice on the altar where the people gather [to worship God].
Ellas contestaron diciendo: “Sí, está; mira allí, delante de ti. Pero date prisa; porque ha venido hoy a la ciudad, por cuanto hoy el pueblo ofrece un sacrificio en la altura.
13 If you go quickly, you will [have time to talk to him] before he goes there. The people who have been invited will not start eating until he arrives there and (blesses/asks God to bless) the sacrifice.”
En cuanto entréis en la ciudad, lo hallaréis antes que suba a la altura para comer; porque no comerá la gente hasta que él venga; pues suele bendecir el sacrificio, y después de esto comen los convidados. Subid, pues, en seguida, que lo hallaréis ahora mismo.”
14 So Saul and the servant entered the town. As they went through the gates, they saw Samuel as he was coming toward them, on the way to where people were going to offer sacrifices.
Subieron, pues, a la ciudad; y he aquí que cuando entraban en la ciudad se encontraron con Samuel que salía para subir a la altura.
15 On the previous day, Yahweh had told Samuel,
Ya un día antes de la llegada de Saúl, Yahvé había avisado a Samuel, diciendo:
16 “At this time tomorrow, I will send to you a man from the land where the descendants of Benjamin live. Pour olive oil on his [head] to [indicate that he will] be the leader of my Israeli people. I have seen that my people are suffering [because the Philistine people are oppressing them], and I have heard my people as they have called out to me [for help]. The man on whose [head] you pour olive oil will rescue my people from the [MTY] Philistine people.”
“Mañana a esta hora te enviaré un hombre del país de Benjamín, al cual ungirás por príncipe sobre Israel, mi pueblo; él salvará a mi pueblo del poder de los filisteos, pues he mirado a mi pueblo, por cuanto ha llegado a Mí su clamor.”
17 When Samuel saw Saul, Yahweh said to him, “This is the man I told you about yesterday! He is the one who will rule my people!”
Luego que Samuel vio a Saúl, Yahvé le dijo: “He aquí el hombre de quien te hablé. Este reinará sobre mi pueblo.”
18 Saul saw Samuel as he was sitting at the town gateway [but he did not know that it was Samuel]. He went over to him and asked him, “Can you tell me, where is the house of the man who sees [(visions from God/all that God sees)]?”
Entretanto, Saúl se acercó a Samuel en medio de la puerta y dijo: “Dime, por favor, dónde está la casa del vidente.”
19 Samuel replied, “I am that man. Go ahead of me with your servant to the place where the people make sacrifices. Both of you will eat with me today. Tomorrow morning I will tell you what you are wanting to know, and then I will send you home.
Samuel respondió a Saúl, diciendo: “Yo soy el vidente; sube delante de mí a la altura. Comeréis hoy conmigo, y mañana te despediré; te diré también todo lo que tienes en tu corazón.
20 Also, do not worry any more about those donkeys that wandered away three days ago. (Someone has found them/They have been found). But [what you need to know is that] it is you and your family that all the Israeli people are wanting!” [RHQ]
Por las asnas que se te perdieron tres días ha, no te preocupes; han sido halladas. ¿Y para quién será lo más precioso en Israel? ¿No será para ti y para toda la casa de tu padre?”
21 Saul replied, “I am from the tribe of Benjamin [RHQ]. That is the smallest tribe in Israel [RHQ]! And my family is the least important family in our tribe! So why are you talking to me like this, [about the Israeli people wanting me and my family]?”
Respondió Saúl y dijo: “¿No soy yo un benjaminita, de la más pequeña de las tribus de Israel? ¿Y no es mi familia la mínima entre todas las familias de los linajes de Benjamín? ¿Por qué me hablas de esta manera?”
22 Then Samuel brought Saul and the servant into the big dining room, and told them to sit at the head [of the table, indicating that he was] honoring them more than he was honoring the 30 people who had been invited.
Entonces tomó Samuel a Saúl y a su criado, y los introdujo en la sala, donde los colocó a la cabecera de los convidados, que eran unos treinta hombres.
23 Then Samuel told the cook, “Bring to me the special piece [of meat] that I told you to set aside.”
Y dijo Samuel al cocinero: “Dame la porción que te di, de la cual te dije: Guárdala contigo.”
24 So the cook brought the leg and the meat that was on it, and set it in front of Saul, [even though those portions were for only the priest to eat]. Samuel said to Saul, “Start eating it. I told the cook to save this for you, so that you could eat it at this time, when all these people whom I invited are here.” So Saul and Samuel ate together.
Sacó, pues el cocinero la espaldilla con lo que hay sobre ella, y la puso delante de Saúl, y dijo: “He aquí lo que quedó reservado; ponlo delante de ti y come; pues para este momento fue guardado para ti cuando invité al pueblo.” Y comió Saúl con Samuel aquel día.
25 After they finished eating, they returned to the town. Then Samuel took Saul up to the [flat] roof [of his house], and fixed a bed for him.
Después bajaron de la altura a la ciudad, y conversó Samuel con Saúl en el terrado.
26 As the sun was rising the next morning, Samuel called up to Saul, “Get up! It is time for me to send you on the road back home.” So Saul got up, and [later] Samuel and Saul left the house together.
Se levantaron muy de mañana, y al rayar el alba Samuel llamó a Saúl que estaba en el terrado, diciendo: “Levántate y te despediré.” Se levantó, pues, Saúl, y salieron fuera los dos, él y Samuel.
27 When they got to the edge of the town, Samuel told Saul to send his servant ahead. After the servant left, Samuel said to Saul, “Stay here for a few minutes, in order that I can give you a message I received from God.”
Y cuando llegaron a la parte extrema de la ciudad, dijo Samuel a Saúl: “Di al criado que vaya delante de nosotros —y este pasó adelante—, pero tú, párate por ahora, para que te comunique una palabra de Dios.”
