1 Samuel 9 – NIRV & CCB

New International Reader’s Version

1 Samuel 9:1-27

Samuel Anoints Saul to Be Israel’s King

1There was a man named Kish from the tribe of Benjamin. Kish was a very important person. He was the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror. Zeror was the son of Bekorath, the son of Aphiah from the tribe of Benjamin. 2Kish had a son named Saul. Saul was a handsome young man. He was more handsome than anyone in Israel. And he was a head taller than anyone else.

3The donkeys that belonged to Saul’s father Kish were lost. So Kish spoke to his son Saul. He said, “Go and look for the donkeys. Take one of the servants with you.” 4Saul and his servant went through the hill country of Ephraim. They also went through the area around Shalisha. But they didn’t find the donkeys. So they went on into the area of Shaalim. But the donkeys weren’t there either. Then Saul went through the territory of Benjamin. But they still didn’t find the donkeys.

5When Saul and the servant with him reached the area of Zuph, Saul spoke to the servant. He said, “Come on. Let’s go back. If we don’t, my father will stop thinking about the donkeys. Instead, he’ll start worrying about us.”

6But the servant replied, “There’s a man of God here in Ramah. People have a lot of respect for him. Everything he says comes true. So let’s go and see him now. Perhaps he’ll tell us which way to go.”

7Saul said to his servant, “If we go to see the man, what can we give him? There isn’t any food in our sacks. We don’t have a gift for the man of God. So what can we give him?”

8The servant answered Saul again. “Look,” he said. “I’ve got a tenth of an ounce of silver. I’ll give it to the man of God. Then maybe he’ll tell us which way to go.” 9In Israel, prophets used to be called seers. So if someone wanted to ask God for advice, they would say, “Come on. Let’s go to the seer.”

10Saul said to his servant, “That’s a good idea. Come on. Let’s go and ask the seer.” So they started out for the town where the man of God lived.

11They were going up the hill toward the town. Along the way they met some young women who were coming out to get water from the well. Saul and his servant asked them, “Is the seer here?”

12“Yes, he is,” they answered. “In fact, he’s just up ahead of you. So hurry along. He has just come to our town today. The people are going to offer a sacrifice at the high place where they worship. 13As soon as you enter the town, you will find him. He’ll be there until he goes up to the high place to eat. The people won’t start eating until he gets there. He must bless the sacrifice first. After that, those who are invited will eat. So go on up. You should find him there just about now.”

14They went up to the town. As they were entering it, they saw Samuel. He was coming toward them. He was on his way up to the high place.

15The Lord had spoken to Samuel the day before Saul came. He had said, 16“About this time tomorrow I will send you a man. He is from the land of Benjamin. Anoint him to be the king of my people Israel. He will save them from the power of the Philistines. I have seen how much my people are suffering. Their cry for help has reached me.”

17When Samuel saw a man coming toward him, the Lord spoke to Samuel again. He said, “He is the man I told you about. His name is Saul. He will govern my people.”

18Saul approached Samuel at the gate of the town. He asked Samuel, “Can you please show me the seer’s house?”

19“I’m the seer,” Samuel replied. “Go on up to the high place ahead of me. I want you and your servant to eat with me today. Tomorrow morning I’ll tell you what’s on your mind. Then I’ll send you on your way. 20Don’t worry about the donkeys you lost three days ago. They’ve already been found. But who do all the Israelites want? You and your father’s whole family!”

21Saul answered, “But I’m from the tribe of Benjamin. It’s the smallest tribe in Israel. And my family group is the least important in the whole tribe of Benjamin. So why are you saying that to me?”

22Then Samuel brought Saul and his servant into the room where they would be eating. He seated them at the head table. About 30 people had been invited. 23Samuel said to the cook, “Bring the piece of meat I gave you. It’s the one I told you to put to one side.”

24So the cook went and got a choice piece of thigh. He set it in front of Saul. Samuel said, “Here is what has been kept for you. Eat it. It was put to one side for you for this special occasion. We’ve saved it for you ever since I invited the guests.” And Saul ate with Samuel that day.

25They came down from the high place to the town. After that, Samuel talked with Saul on the roof of Samuel’s house. 26The next day they got up at about the time the sun was rising. Samuel called out to Saul on the roof. He said, “Get ready. Then I’ll send you on your way.” So Saul got ready. And he and Samuel went outside together. 27As they were on their way down to the edge of town, Samuel spoke to Saul. He said, “Tell the servant to go ahead of us.” So the servant went on ahead. Then Samuel continued, “Stay here for a while. I’ll give you a message from God.”

Chinese Contemporary Bible (Simplified)

撒母耳记上 9:1-27

扫罗寻驴

1有一个便雅悯人名叫基士,很有威望,是亚斐亚的玄孙、比歌拉的曾孙、洗罗的孙子、亚别的儿子。 2他的儿子扫罗年轻英俊,在以色列人中无人能比,高出其他人一个头。 3一天,基士丢失了几头驴,他就对儿子扫罗说:“你带一个仆人去找驴吧。” 4他们找遍了以法莲的山区、沙利沙地区、沙琳地区和便雅悯地区,都找不着。

5最后,他们来到苏弗扫罗对仆人说:“我们还是回家去吧,恐怕我父亲不再为驴担心,反而为我们担心。” 6但仆人答道:“且慢,这城里有一位上帝的仆人,很受人敬重,他所说的都会应验。我们去找他吧,也许他会告诉我们该到哪里去找驴。” 7扫罗答道:“如果去,我们有什么可以送给他呢?我们袋里的食物也吃完了,我们还有什么可以送给上帝的仆人呢?” 8仆人说:“我这里还有三克银子,我们可以送给上帝的仆人,请他告诉我们去哪里找驴。” 9从前在以色列,如果人们要求问上帝,他们会说:“让我们去找先见吧。”当时“先知”被称为“先见”。 10扫罗说:“好,我们去吧。”于是,他们前往上帝仆人住的城。 11他们走上山坡,正要进城的时候,遇见一些少女出来打水,就问:“先见在这里吗?” 12她们答道:“他在这里,就在你们前面。你们快去吧,他今天刚到城里来,因为今天人们在丘坛献祭。 13你们一进城,就会在他上丘坛吃祭物之前遇见他。因为他不来,人们不能吃,他要先为祭物祝谢后,人们才可以吃。你们现在上去吧,一定会遇见他。” 14他们就赶往城内,刚走进城,就看见撒母耳迎面而来,要上丘坛去。

15扫罗来的前一天,耶和华已经启示撒母耳说: 16“明天这个时候,我会从便雅悯境内差遣一个人到你这里,你要膏立他做我以色列子民的首领,他会从非利士人手中把我的子民拯救出来,因为我已听到我子民的呼求,我要施恩给他们。”

17撒母耳看见扫罗的时候,耶和华就对他说:“这就是我对你说的那个人,他将统治我的子民。” 18扫罗来到在城门口的撒母耳面前,问道:“请你告诉我先见住在哪里?” 19撒母耳答道:“我就是先见。你先上丘坛去,今天你要和我一起吃饭。明天早上我会送你上路,并把你想知道的事告诉你。 20不要再挂念三天前丢失的驴了,已经找到了。以色列人所仰慕的人是谁呢?不是你和你父亲全家吗?” 21扫罗答道:“我来自以色列最小的便雅悯支派,我的家族在便雅悯支派中最小,你何出此言?”

22撒母耳带着扫罗和他的仆人来到一个大厅,让他们在请来的三十位客人中坐上座。 23撒母耳对厨师说:“把我交给你的那份祭肉拿来。” 24厨师就拿来那块腿肉,摆在扫罗面前。撒母耳说:“这是为你留的,请吃吧。这是我在请客人时特意为你留的。”于是,扫罗撒母耳一起吃饭。 25他们从丘坛下来,回到城里后,撒母耳扫罗带到屋顶上谈话。 26次日黎明时分,撒母耳呼唤屋顶上的扫罗:“起来吧,我该送你上路了。”于是扫罗起床后,与撒母耳一起往外走。 27他们来到城边的时候,撒母耳扫罗吩咐仆人先走。仆人离去后,他对扫罗说:“你在这里留一会儿,我要把上帝的话告诉你。”