1 Samuel 16

1 Now the LORD said to Samuel, “How long are you going to mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem, for I have selected from his sons a king for Myself.”

1 耶和华对撒母耳说：「我既厌弃扫罗作以色列的王，你为他悲伤要到几时呢？你将膏油盛满了角，我差遣你往伯利恒人耶西那里去；因为我在他众子之内，预定一个作王的。」

2 “How can I go?” Samuel asked. “Saul will hear of it and kill me!” The LORD answered, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.’

2 撒母耳说：「我怎能去呢？扫罗若听见，必要杀我。」耶和华说：「你可以带一只牛犊去，就说：『我来是要向耶和华献祭。』

3 Then invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you are to do. You are to anoint for Me the one I indicate.”

3 你要请耶西来吃祭肉，我就指示你所当行的事。我所指给你的人，你要膏他。」

4 So Samuel did what the LORD had said and went to Bethlehem. When the elders of the town met him, they trembled and asked, “Do you come in peace?”

4 撒母耳就照耶和华的话去行。到了伯利恒，那城里的长老都战战兢兢地出来迎接他，问他说：「你是为平安来的吗？」

5 “In peace,” he replied. “I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Consecrate yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

5 他说：「为平安来的，我是给耶和华献祭。你们当自洁，来与我同吃祭肉。」撒母耳就使耶西和他众子自洁，请他们来吃祭肉。

6 When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and said, “Surely here before the LORD is His anointed.”

6 他们来的时候，撒母耳看见以 利押，就心里说，耶和华的受膏者必定在他面前。

7 But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or height, for I have rejected him; the LORD does not see as man does. For man sees the outward appearance, but the LORD sees the heart.”

7 耶和华却对撒母耳说：「不要看他的外貌和他身材高大，我不拣选他。因为，耶和华不像人看人：人是看外貌；耶和华是看内心。」

8 Then Jesse called Abinadab and presented him to Samuel, who said, “The LORD has not chosen this one either.”

8 耶西叫亚比拿达从撒母耳面前经过，撒母耳说：「耶和华也不拣选他。」

9 Next Jesse presented Shammah, but Samuel said, “The LORD has not chosen this one either.”

9 耶西又叫沙玛从撒母耳面前经过，撒母耳说：「耶和华也不拣选他。」

10 Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel told him, “The LORD has not chosen any of these.”

10 耶西叫他七个儿子都从撒母耳面前经过，撒母耳说：「这都不是耶和华所拣选的。」

11 And Samuel asked him, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest,” Jesse replied, “but he is tending the sheep.” “Send for him,” Samuel replied. “For we will not sit down to eat until he arrives.”

11 撒母耳对耶西说：「你的儿子都在这里吗？」他回答说：「还有个小的，现在放羊。」撒母耳对耶西说：「你打发人去叫他来；他若不来，我们必不坐席。」

12 So Jesse sent for his youngest son and brought him in. He was ruddy, with beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance. And the LORD said, “Rise and anoint him, for he is the one.”

12 耶西就打发人去叫了他来。他面色光红，双目清秀，容貌俊美。耶和华说：「这就是他，你起来膏他。」

13 So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day forward. Then Samuel set out and went to Ramah.

13 撒母耳就用角里的膏油，在他诸兄中膏了他。从这日起，耶和华的灵就大大感动大卫。撒母耳起身回拉玛去了。

14 Now the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and a spirit of distress from the LORD began to torment him.

14 耶和华的灵离开扫罗，有恶魔从耶和华那里来扰乱他。

15 Saul’s servants said to him, “Surely a spirit of distress from God is tormenting you.

15 扫罗的臣仆对他说：「现在有恶魔从 神那里来扰乱你。

16 Let our lord command your servants here to seek out someone who can skillfully play the harp. Whenever the spirit of distress from God is upon you, he is to play it, and you will be well.”

16 我们的主可以吩咐面前的臣仆，找一个善于弹琴的来，等 神那里来的恶魔临到你身上的时候，使他用手弹琴，你就好了。」

17 And Saul commanded his servants, “Find me someone who plays well, and bring him to me.”

17 扫罗对臣仆说：「你们可以为我找一个善于弹琴的，带到我这里来。」

18 One of the servants answered, “I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the harp. He is a mighty man of valor, a warrior, eloquent and handsome, and the LORD is with him.”

18 其中有一个少年人说：「我曾见伯利恒人耶西的一个儿子善于弹琴，是大有勇敢的战士，说话合宜，容貌俊美，耶和华也与他同在。」

19 So Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.”

19 于是扫罗差遣使者去见耶西，说：「请你打发你放羊的儿子大卫到我这里来。」

20 And Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a skin of wine, and one young goat and sent them to Saul with his son David.

20 耶西就把几个饼和一皮袋酒，并一只山羊羔，都驮在驴上，交给他儿子大卫，送与扫罗。

21 When David came to Saul and entered his service, Saul loved him very much, and David became his armor-bearer.

21 大卫到了扫罗那里，就侍立在扫罗面前。扫罗甚喜爱他，他就作了扫罗拿兵器的人。

22 Then Saul sent word to Jesse, saying, “Let David remain in my service, for I am pleased with him.”

22 扫罗差遣人去见耶西，说：「求你容大卫侍立在我面前，因为他在我眼前蒙了恩。」

23 And whenever the spirit from God came upon Saul, David would pick up his harp and play. Then Saul would find relief and feel better, and the spirit of distress would depart from him.

23 从 神那里来的恶魔临到扫罗身上的时候，大卫就拿琴，用手而弹，扫罗便舒畅爽快，恶魔离了他。