< 1 Samuel 24 >

1 When Saul had returned from following the Philistines, he was told, “Behold, David is in the wilderness 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 Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men on the rocks of the wild goats.
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 He came to the sheep pens by the way, where there was a cave; and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were staying in the innermost parts of 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, “Behold, the day of which the LORD said to you, ‘Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you.’” Then David arose and cut off the skirt of Saul’s robe secretly.
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 Afterward, David’s heart struck him because he had cut off Saul’s skirt.
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 said to his men, “The LORD forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the LORD’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, since he is the LORD’s anointed.”
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 So David checked his men with these words, and didn’t allow them to rise against Saul. Saul rose up out of the cave, 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 David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave and cried after Saul, saying, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth, and showed respect.
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 David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to men’s words, saying, ‘Behold, David seeks to harm you’?
達味對撒烏耳說:「你為什麼聽信人言,說:達味設計害你﹖
10 Behold, today your eyes have seen how the LORD had delivered you today into my hand in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you. I said, ‘I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for he is the LORD’s anointed.’
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 Moreover, my father, behold, yes, see the skirt of your robe in my hand; for in that I cut off the skirt of your robe and didn’t kill you, know and see that there is neither evil nor disobedience in my hand. I have not sinned against you, though you hunt for my life to take it.
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 judge between me and you, and may the LORD avenge me of you; but my hand will not be on 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 proverb of the ancients says, ‘Out of the wicked comes wickedness;’ but my hand will not be on 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 Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom do you pursue? A dead dog? 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 therefore be judge, and give sentence between me and you, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of your hand.”
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 It came to pass, when David had finished speaking these words to Saul, that Saul said, “Is that your voice, my son David?” Saul lifted up his voice and wept.
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 said to David, “You are more righteous than I; for you have done good to me, whereas I have done evil to you.
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 You have declared today how you have dealt well with me, because when the LORD had delivered me up into your hand, 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 finds his enemy, will he let him go away unharmed? Therefore may the LORD reward you good for that which you have done to 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 Now, behold, I know that you will surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand.
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 Swear now therefore to me by the LORD that you will not cut off my offspring after me, and that you will not destroy my name out of my father’s house.”
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 David swore to Saul. Saul went home, but David and his men went up 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。

< 1 Samuel 24 >