今日讀經

百姓要求立王

¹撒母耳年紀老邁，就立他兒子作以色列的士師。When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as judges over Israel.

²長子名叫約珥，次子名叫亞比亞；他們在別是巴作士師。The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second was Abijah. They were judges in Beersheba.

³他兒子不行他的道，貪圖財利，收受賄賂，屈枉正直。But his sons did not walk in his ways; they turned aside toward dishonest gain, accepting bribes and perverting justice.

⁴以色列的長老都聚集，來到拉瑪見撒母耳，So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah.

⁵對他說：「你年紀老邁了，你兒子不行你的道。現在求你為我們立一個王治理我們，像列國一樣。」“Look,” they said, “you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint a king to judge us like all the other nations.”

⁶撒母耳不喜悅他們說「立一個王治理我們」，他就禱告耶和華。But when they said, “Give us a king to judge us,” their demand was displeasing in the sight of Samuel; so he prayed to the LORD.

⁷耶和華對撒母耳說：「百姓向你說的一切話，你只管依從；因為他們不是厭棄你，乃是厭棄我，不要我作他們的王。And the LORD said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you. For it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected Me as their king.

⁸自從我領他們出埃及到如今，他們常常離棄我，事奉別神。現在他們向你所行的，是照他們素來所行的。Just as they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking Me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you.

⁹故此你要依從他們的話，只是當警戒他們，告訴他們將來那王怎樣管轄他們。」Now listen to their voice; but you must solemnly warn them and show them the manner of the king who will reign over them.”

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撒母耳警告王會怎樣管轄

¹⁰撒母耳將耶和華的話都傳給求他立王的百姓，說：So Samuel spoke all the words of the LORD to the people who were asking him for a king.

¹¹「管轄你們的王必這樣行：他必派你們的兒子為他趕車、跟馬，奔走在車前；He said, “This will be the manner of the king who will reign over you: He will take your sons and appoint them to serve his own chariots and horses, and to run in front of his chariots.

¹²又派他們作千夫長、五十夫長，為他耕種田地，收割莊稼，打造軍器和車上的器械；He will appoint some for himself as commanders of thousands and of fifties, and others to plow his ground, to reap his harvest, and to make his weapons of war and equipment for his chariots.

¹³必取你們的女兒為他製造香膏，做飯烤餅；And he will take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks, and bakers.

¹⁴也必取你們最好的田地、葡萄園、橄欖園賜給他的臣僕。He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his servants.

¹⁵你們的糧食和葡萄園所出的，他必取十分之一給他的太監和臣僕；He will take a tenth of your grain and grape harvest and give it to his officials and servants.

¹⁶又必取你們的僕人婢女，健壯的少年人和你們的驢，供他的差役。And he will take your menservants and maidservants and your best cattle and donkeys and put them to his own use.

¹⁷你們的羊群他必取十分之一，你們也必作他的僕人。He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves.

¹⁸那時你們必因所選的王哀求耶和華，耶和華卻不應允你們。」When that day comes, you will beg for relief from the king you have chosen, but the LORD will not answer you on that day.”

百姓堅持要一個王

¹⁹百姓竟不肯聽撒母耳的話，說：「不然！我們定要一個王治理我們，Nevertheless, the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We must have a king over us.

²⁰使我們像列國一樣，有王治理我們，統領我們，為我們爭戰。」Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to judge us, to go out before us, and to fight our battles.”

²¹撒母耳聽見百姓這一切話，就將這話陳明在耶和華面前。Samuel listened to all the words of the people and repeated them in the hearing of the LORD.

²²耶和華對撒母耳說：「你只管依從他們的話，為他們立王。」撒母耳對以色列人說：「你們各歸各城去吧！」“Listen to their voice,” the LORD said to Samuel. “Appoint a king for them.” Then Samuel told the men of Israel, “Everyone must go back to his city.”

掃羅出去找驢

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）。Now there was a Benjamite, a powerful man, whose name was Kish son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah of Benjamin.

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。And he had a son named Saul, choice and handsome, without equal among the Israelites—a head taller than any of the people.

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。」One day the donkeys of Saul’s father Kish wandered off, and Kish said to his son Saul, “Take one of the servants and go look for the donkeys.”

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。So Saul passed through the hill country of Ephraim and then through the land of Shalishah, but they did not find the donkeys. He and the servant went through the region of Shaalim, but they were not there. Then they went through the land of Benjamin, and still they did not find them.

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。」When they reached the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant, “Come, let us go back, or my father will stop worrying about the donkeys and start worrying about us.”

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。」“Look,” said the servant, “in this city there is a man of God who is highly respected; everything he says surely comes to pass. Let us go there now. Perhaps he will tell us which way to go.”

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？」“If we do go,” Saul replied, “what can we give the man? For the bread in our packs is gone, and there is no gift to take to the man of God. What do we have?”

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。」The servant answered him again. “Look,” he said, “I have here in my hand a quarter shekel of silver. I will give it to the man of God, and he will tell us our way.”

⁹（從前以色列中，若有人去問　神，就說：「我們問先見去吧！」現在稱為「先知」的，從前稱為「先見」。）(Formerly in Israel, a man on his way to inquire of God would say, “Come, let us go to the seer.” For the prophet of today was formerly called the seer.)

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。“Good,” said Saul to his servant. “Come, let us go.” So they set out for the city where the man of God was.

¹¹他們上坡要進城，就遇見幾個少年女子出來打水，問她們說：「先見在這裡沒有？」And as they were climbing the hill to the city, they met some young women coming out to draw water and asked, “Is the seer here?”

¹²女子回答說：「在這裡，他在你們前面。快去吧！他今日正到城裡，因為今日百姓要在邱壇獻祭。“Yes, he is ahead of you,” they answered. “Hurry now, for today he has come to the city because the people have a sacrifice on the high place.

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。」As soon as you enter the city, you will find him before he goes up to the high place to eat. The people will not eat until he comes, because he must bless the sacrifice; after that, the guests will eat. Go up at once; you will find him.”

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。So Saul and his servant went up toward the city, and as they were entering it, there was Samuel coming toward them on his way up to the high place.

神預先指示撒母耳

¹⁵掃羅未到的前一日，耶和華已經指示撒母耳說：Now on the day before Saul’s arrival, the LORD had revealed to Samuel,

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。」“At this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you are to anoint him ruler over My people Israel; he will save them from the hand of the Philistines. For I have looked upon My people, because their cry has come to Me.”

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。」When Samuel saw Saul, the LORD told him, “Here is the man of whom I spoke; he shall rule over My people.”

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？」Saul approached Samuel in the gateway and asked, “Would you please tell me where the seer’s house is?”

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。“I am the seer,” Samuel replied. “Go up before me to the high place, for you shall eat with me today. And when I send you off in the morning, I will tell you all that is in your heart.

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嗎？」As for the donkeys you lost three days ago, do not worry about them, for they have been found. And upon whom is all the desire of Israel, if not upon you and all your father’s house?”

²¹掃羅說：「我不是以色列支派中至小的便雅憫人嗎？我家不是便雅憫支派中至小的家嗎？你為何對我說這樣的話呢？」Saul replied, “Am I not a Benjamite from the smallest tribe of Israel, and is not my clan the least of all the clans of Benjamin? So why would you say such a thing to me?”

撒母耳款待掃羅

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。Then Samuel took Saul and his servant, brought them into the hall, and seated them in the place of honor among those who were invited—about thirty in all.

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。」And Samuel said to the cook, “Bring the portion I gave you and told you to set aside.”

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。吃吧！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。So the cook picked up the leg and what was attached to it and set it before Saul. Then Samuel said, “Here is what was kept back. It was set apart for you. Eat, for it has been kept for you for this occasion, from the time I said, ‘I have invited the people.’” So Saul dined with Samuel that day.

²⁵眾人從邱壇下來進城，撒母耳和掃羅在房頂上說話。And after they had come down from the high place into the city, Samuel spoke with Saul on the roof of his house.

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：「起來吧，我好送你回去。」掃羅就起來，和撒母耳一同出去。They got up early in the morning, and just before dawn Samuel called to Saul on the roof, “Get ready, and I will send you on your way!” So Saul got ready, and both he and Samuel went outside together.

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。」As they were going down to the edge of the city, Samuel said to Saul, “Tell the servant to go on ahead of us, but you stay for a while, and I will reveal to you the word of God.” So the servant went on.

撒母耳膏掃羅

¹撒母耳拿瓶膏油倒在掃羅的頭上，與他親嘴，說：「這不是耶和華膏你作他產業的君嗎？Then Samuel took a flask of oil, poured it on Saul’s head, kissed him, and said, “Has not the LORD anointed you ruler over His inheritance?

²你今日與我離別之後，在便雅憫境內的泄撒，靠近拉結的墳墓，要遇見兩個人。他們必對你說：『你去找的那幾頭驢已經找著了。現在你父親不為驢掛心，反為你擔憂，說：我為兒子怎麼才好呢？』When you leave me today, you will find two men at Rachel’s tomb in Zelzah on the border of Benjamin. They will say to you, ‘The donkeys you seek have been found, and now your father has stopped worrying about the donkeys and started worrying about you, asking, “What should I do about my son?”’

³你從那裡往前行，到了他泊的橡樹那裡，必遇見三個往伯特利去拜　神的人：一個帶著三隻山羊羔，一個帶著三個餅，一個帶著一皮袋酒。Then you will go on from there until you come to the Oak of Tabor. Three men going up to God at Bethel will meet you there, one carrying three young goats, another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a skin of wine.

⁴他們必問你安，給你兩個餅，你就從他們手中接過來。They will greet you and give you two loaves of bread, which you will accept from their hands.

⁵此後你到　神的山，在那裡有非利士人的防兵。你到了城的時候，必遇見一班先知從邱壇下來，前面有鼓瑟的、擊鼓的、吹笛的、彈琴的，他們都受感說話。After that you will come to Gibeah of God, where the Philistines have an outpost. As you approach the city, you will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place, preceded by harps, tambourines, flutes, and lyres, and they will be prophesying.

⁶耶和華的靈必大大感動你，你就與他們一同受感說話；你要變為新人。Then the Spirit of the LORD will rush upon you, and you will prophesy with them; and you will be transformed into a different person.

⁷這兆頭臨到你，你就可以趁時而做，因為　神與你同在。When these signs have come, do as the occasion demands, for God is with you.

⁸你當在我以先下到吉甲，我也必下到那裡獻燔祭和平安祭。你要等候七日，等我到了那裡，指示你當行的事。」And you shall go before me to Gilgal, and surely I will come to you to offer burnt offerings and to sacrifice peace offerings. Wait seven days until I come to you and show you what you are to do.”

兆頭應驗，掃羅受感說話

⁹掃羅轉身離別撒母耳，　神就賜他一個新心。當日這一切兆頭都應驗了。As Saul turned to leave Samuel, God changed Saul’s heart, and all the signs came to pass that day.

¹⁰掃羅到了那山，有一班先知遇見他，　神的靈大大感動他，他就在先知中受感說話。When Saul and his servant arrived at Gibeah, a group of prophets met him. Then the Spirit of God rushed upon him, and he prophesied along with them.

¹¹素來認識掃羅的，看見他和先知一同受感說話，就彼此說：「基士的兒子遇見甚麼了？掃羅也列在先知中嗎？」When all those who had formerly known Saul saw him prophesying with the prophets, they asked one another, “What has happened to the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?”

¹²那地方有一個人說：「這些人的父親是誰呢？」此後有句俗語說：「掃羅也列在先知中嗎？」Then a man who lived there replied, “And who is their father?” So the saying became a proverb: “Is Saul also among the prophets?”

¹³掃羅受感說話已畢，就上邱壇去了。And when Saul had finished prophesying, he went up to the high place.

¹⁴掃羅的叔叔問掃羅和他僕人說：「你們往哪裡去了？」回答說：「找驢去了。我們見沒有驢，就到了撒母耳那裡。」Now Saul’s uncle asked him and his servant, “Where did you go?” “To look for the donkeys,” Saul replied. “When we saw they were not to be found, we went to Samuel.”

¹⁵掃羅的叔叔說：「請將撒母耳向你們所說的話告訴我。」“Tell me,” Saul’s uncle asked, “what did Samuel say to you?”

¹⁶掃羅對他叔叔說：「他明明地告訴我們驢已經找著了。」至於撒母耳所說的國事，掃羅卻沒有告訴叔叔。And Saul replied, “He assured us that the donkeys had been found.” But Saul did not tell his uncle what Samuel had said about the kingship.

在米斯巴掣籤立王

¹⁷撒母耳將百姓招聚到米斯巴耶和華那裡，After this, Samuel summoned the people to the LORD at Mizpah

¹⁸對他們說：「耶和華─以色列的　神如此說：『我領你們以色列人出埃及，救你們脫離埃及人的手，又救你們脫離欺壓你們各國之人的手。』and said to the Israelites, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘I brought Israel up out of Egypt, and I rescued you from the hands of the Egyptians and of all the kingdoms that oppressed you.’

¹⁹你們今日卻厭棄了救你們脫離一切災難的　神，說：『求你立一個王治理我們。』現在你們應當按著支派、宗族都站在耶和華面前。」But today you have rejected your God, who saves you from all your troubles and afflictions, and you have said to Him, ‘No, set a king over us.’ Now therefore present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes and clans.”

²⁰於是，撒母耳使以色列眾支派近前來掣籤，就掣出便雅憫支派來；Thus Samuel had all the tribes of Israel come forward, and the tribe of Benjamin was selected.

²¹又使便雅憫支派按著宗族近前來，就掣出瑪特利族，從其中又掣出基士的兒子掃羅。眾人尋找他卻尋不著，Then he had the tribe of Benjamin come forward by its clans, and the clan of Matri was selected. Finally, Saul son of Kish was selected. But when they looked for him, they could not find him.

²²就問耶和華說：「那人到這裡來了沒有？」耶和華說：「他藏在器具中了。」So again they inquired of the LORD, “Has the man come here yet?” And the LORD replied, “Behold, he has hidden himself among the baggage.”

²³眾人就跑去從那裡領出他來。他站在百姓中間，身體比眾民高過一頭。So they ran and brought Saul, and when he stood among the people, he was a head taller than any of the others.

²⁴撒母耳對眾民說：「你們看耶和華所揀選的人，眾民中有可比他的嗎？」眾民就大聲歡呼說：「願王萬歲！」Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see the one the LORD has chosen? There is no one like him among all the people.” And all the people shouted, “Long live the king!”

²⁵撒母耳將國法對百姓說明，又記在書上，放在耶和華面前，然後遣散眾民，各回各家去了。Then Samuel explained to the people the rights of kingship. He wrote them on a scroll and laid it up before the LORD. And Samuel sent all the people away, each to his own home.

有人跟隨，有人藐視

²⁶掃羅往基比亞回家去，有　神感動的一群人跟隨他。Saul also went to his home in Gibeah, and the men of valor whose hearts God had touched went with him.

²⁷但有些匪徒說：「這人怎能救我們呢？」就藐視他，沒有送他禮物；掃羅卻不理會。But some worthless men said, “How can this man save us?” So they despised him and brought him no gifts; but Saul remained silent about it.

耶穌預言受難與復活

³¹耶穌帶著十二個門徒，對他們說：「看哪，我們上耶路撒冷去，先知所寫的一切事都要成就在人子身上。Then Jesus took the Twelve aside and said to them, “Look, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything the prophets have written about the Son of Man will be fulfilled.

³²他將要被交給外邦人；他們要戲弄他，凌辱他，吐唾沫在他臉上，He will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon.

³³並要鞭打他，殺害他；第三日他要復活。」They will flog Him and kill Him, and on the third day He will rise again.”

門徒一樣也不懂得

³⁴這些事門徒一樣也不懂得，意思乃是隱藏的；他們不曉得所說的是甚麼。But the disciples did not understand any of these things. The meaning was hidden from them, and they did not comprehend what He was saying.

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瞎子呼求大衛的子孫

³⁵耶穌將近耶利哥的時候，有一個瞎子坐在路旁討飯。As Jesus drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting beside the road, begging.

³⁶聽見許多人經過，就問是甚麼事。When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening.

³⁷他們告訴他，是拿撒勒人耶穌經過。“Jesus of Nazareth is passing by,” they told him.

³⁸他就呼叫說：「大衛的子孫耶穌啊，可憐我吧！」So he called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

³⁹在前頭走的人就責備他，不許他作聲；他卻越發喊叫說：「大衛的子孫，可憐我吧！」Those who led the way admonished him to be silent, but he cried out all the louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

耶穌使瞎子看見

⁴⁰耶穌站住，吩咐把他領過來，到了跟前，就問他說：Jesus stopped and directed that the man be brought to Him. When he had come near, Jesus asked him,

⁴¹「你要我為你做甚麼？」他說：「主啊，我要能看見。」“What do you want Me to do for you?” “Lord,” he said, “let me see again.”

⁴²耶穌說：「你可以看見！你的信救了你了。」“Receive your sight!” Jesus replied. “Your faith has healed you.”

⁴³瞎子立刻看見了，就跟隨耶穌，一路歸榮耀與　神。眾人看見這事，也讚美　神。Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.

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