1Now 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 valor.
1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（或譯：大財主）。
2He had a son whose name was Saul, a choice and handsome [man], and there was not a more handsome person than he among the sons of Israel; from his shoulders and up he was taller than any of the people.
2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。
3Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul's father, were lost. So Kish said to his son Saul, 'Take now with you one of the servants, and arise, go search for the donkeys.'
3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。
4He passed through the hill country of Ephraim and passed through the land of Shalishah, but they did not find [them]. Then they passed through the land of Shaalim, but [they were] not [there]. Then he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they did not find [them].
4掃羅就走過以法蓮山地，又過沙利沙地，都沒有找著；又過沙琳地，驢也不在那裡；又過便雅憫地，還沒有找著。
5When they came to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant who was with him, 'Come, and let us return, or else my father will cease [to be concerned] about the donkeys and will become anxious for us.'
5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。
6He said to him, 'Behold now, there is a man of God in this city, and the man is held in honor; all that he says surely comes true. Now let us go there, perhaps he can tell us about our journey on which we have set out.'
6僕人說：這城裡有一位神人，是眾人所尊重的，凡他所說的全都應驗。我們不如往他那裡去，或者他能將我們當走的路指示我們。
7Then Saul said to his servant, 'But behold, if we go, what shall we bring the man? For the bread is gone from our sack and there is no present to bring to the man of God. What do we have?'
7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？
8The servant answered Saul again and said, 'Behold, I have in my hand a fourth of a shekel of silver; I will give [it] to the man of God and he will tell us our way.'
8僕人回答掃羅說：我手裡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(Formerly in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, he used to say, 'Come, and let us go to the seer'; for [he who is called] a prophet now was formerly called a seer.)
9（從前以色列中，若有人去問神，就說：我們問先見去罷！現在稱為先知的，從前稱為先見。）
10Then Saul said to his servant, 'Well said; come, let us go.' So they went to the city where the man of God was.
10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裡去了。
11As they went up the slope to the city, they found young women going out to draw water and said to them, 'Is the seer here?'
11他們上坡要進城，就遇見幾個少年女子出來打水，問他們說：先見在這裡沒有？
12They answered them and said, 'He is; see, [he is] ahead of you. Hurry now, for he has come into the city today, for the people have a sacrifice on the high place today.
12女子回答說：在這裡，他在你們前面。快去罷！他今日正到城裡，因為今日百姓要在邱壇獻祭。
13'As soon as you enter the city you will find him before he goes up to the high place to eat, for the people will not eat until he comes, because he must bless the sacrifice; afterward those who are invited will eat. Now therefore, go up for you will find him at once.'
13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。
14So they went up to the city. As they came into the city, behold, Samuel was coming out toward them to go up to the high place.
14二人就上去；將進城的時候，撒母耳正迎著他們來，要上邱壇去。
15Now a day before Saul's coming, the LORD had revealed [this] to Samuel saying,
15掃羅未到的前一日，耶和華已經指示撒母耳說：
16'About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be prince over My people Israel; and he will deliver My people from the hand of the Philistines. For I have regarded My people, because their cry has come to Me.'
16明日這時候，我必使一個人從便雅憫地到你這裡來，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。
17When Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said to him, 'Behold, the man of whom I spoke to you! This one shall rule over My people.'
17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。
18Then Saul approached Samuel in the gate and said, 'Please tell me where the seer's house is.'
18掃羅在城門裡走到撒母耳跟前，說：請告訴我，先見的寓所在哪裡？
19Samuel answered Saul and said, 'I am the seer. Go up before me to the high place, for you shall eat with me today; and in the morning I will let you go, and will tell you all that is on your mind.
19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，將你心裡的事都告訴你。
20'As for your donkeys which were lost three days ago, do not set your mind on them, for they have been found. And for whom is all that is desirable in Israel? Is it not for you and for all your father's household?'
20至於你前三日所丟的那幾頭驢，你心裡不必掛念，已經找著了。以色列眾人所仰慕的是誰呢？不是仰慕你和你父的全家麼？
21Saul replied, 'Am I not a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel, and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then do you speak to me in this way?'
21掃羅說：我不是以色列支派中至小的便雅憫人麼？我家不是便雅憫支派中至小的家麼？你為何對我說這樣的話呢？
22Then Samuel took Saul and his servant and brought them into the hall and gave them a place at the head of those who were invited, who were about thirty men.
22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。
23Samuel said to the cook, 'Bring the portion that I gave you, concerning which I said to you, 'Set it aside.''
23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。
24Then the cook took up the leg with what was on it and set [it] before Saul. And [Samuel] said, 'Here is what has been reserved! Set [it] before you [and] eat, because it has been kept for you until the appointed time, since I said I have invited the people.' So Saul ate with Samuel that day.
24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。吃罷！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。
25When they came down from the high place into the city, [Samuel] spoke with Saul on the roof.
25眾人從邱壇下來進城，撒母耳和掃羅在房頂上說話。
26And they arose early; and at daybreak Samuel called to Saul on the roof, saying, 'Get up, that I may send you away.' So Saul arose, and both he and Samuel went out into the street.
26次日清早起來，黎明的時候，掃羅在房頂上。撒母耳呼叫他說：起來罷，我好送你回去。掃羅就起來，和撒母耳一同出去。
27As they were going down to the edge of the city, Samuel said to Saul, 'Say to the servant that he might go ahead of us and pass on, but you remain standing now, that I may proclaim the word of God to you.'
27二人下到城角，撒母耳對掃羅說：要吩咐僕人先走（僕人就先走了）；你且站在這裡，等我將神的話傳與你聽。