撒母耳临别赠言
撒母耳对以色列众人说：“看哪，我已听了你们对我所说一切的话，为你们立了一个王。
And Samuel said unto all Israel, Behold, I have hearkened unto your voice in all that ye said unto me, and have made a king over you.
2现在，看哪，有这王行走在你们前面。我已年老发白，看哪，我的儿子都在你们这里。我从幼年直到今日都行走在你们前面。And now, behold, the king walketh before you: and I am old and grayheaded; and, behold, my sons are with you: and I have walked before you from my childhood unto this day.
3我在这里，你们要在耶和华和他的受膏者面前为我作证，我夺过谁的牛，抢过谁的驴，欺负过谁，虐待过谁，从谁手里收过贿赂而蒙蔽自己的眼目呢？若有，我必偿还。”Behold, here I am: witness against me before the LORD, and before his anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it you.
4众人说：“你未曾欺负我们，虐待我们，也未曾从任何人手里收过任何东西。”And they said, Thou hast not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither hast thou taken ought of any man's hand.
5撒母耳对他们说：“你们在我手里没有找着什么，有耶和华在你们中间作证，也有他的受膏者今日作证。”他们说☛“他们说”是根据七十士译本；原文是“他说”。：“愿耶和华作证。”And he said unto them, The LORD is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that ye have not found ought in my hand. And they answered, He is witness.
6撒母耳对百姓说：“从前立摩西和亚伦，又领你们祖先出埃及地的是耶和华。And Samuel said unto the people, It is the LORD that advanced Moses and Aaron, and that brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt.
7现在你们要站住，让我在耶和华面前，以耶和华向你们和你们祖先所行一切公义的事来和你们争辩。Now therefore stand still, that I may reason with you before the LORD of all the righteous acts of the LORD, which he did to you and to your fathers.
8从前雅各到了埃及，后来你们的祖先呼求耶和华，耶和华就差遣摩西和亚伦领你们的祖先出埃及，来到这地方居住。When Jacob was come into Egypt, and your fathers cried unto the LORD, then the LORD sent Moses and Aaron, which brought forth your fathers out of Egypt, and made them dwell in this place.
9他们却忘记耶和华－他们的神，他就把他们交给夏琐将军西西拉的手中，以及非利士人和摩押王的手中☛“交给.手中”：原文是“卖给.手中”。。于是这些人常来攻击他们。And when they forgat the LORD their God, he sold them into the hand of Sisera, captain of the host of Hazor, and into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab, and they fought against them.
10他们呼求耶和华说：‘我们离弃了耶和华去事奉诸巴力和亚斯她录，我们有罪了。现在求你救我们脱离仇敌的手，我们必事奉你。’And they cried unto the LORD, and said, We have sinned, because we have forsaken the LORD, and have served Baalim and Ashtaroth: but now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, and we will serve thee.
11耶和华就差遣耶路巴力、比但、耶弗他、撒母耳救你们脱离四围仇敌的手，你们才安然居住。And the LORD sent Jerubbaal, and Bedan, and Jephthah, and Samuel, and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side, and ye dwelled safe.
12你们见亚扪人的王拿辖来攻击你们，就对我说：‘不，要有一个王治理我们。’其实耶和华－你们的神是你们的王。And when ye saw that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon came against you, ye said unto me, Nay; but a king shall reign over us: when the LORD your God was your king.
13现在，看哪，这就是你们所选的、你们所求的王。看哪，耶和华已经为你们立王了。Now therefore behold the king whom ye have chosen, and whom ye have desired! and, behold, the LORD hath set a king over you.
14你们若敬畏耶和华，事奉他，听从他的话，不违背耶和华的命令，你们和治理你们的王也都跟从耶和华－你们的神就好了。If ye will fear the LORD, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall both ye and also the king that reigneth over you continue following the LORD your God:
15倘若不听从耶和华的话，违背他的命令，耶和华的手必攻击你们，像从前攻击你们祖先一样。But if ye will not obey the voice of the LORD, but rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall the hand of the LORD be against you, as it was against your fathers.
16现在你们要站住，看耶和华在你们眼前要行的一件大事。Now therefore stand and see this great thing, which the LORD will do before your eyes.
17这不是割麦子的时候吗？我求告耶和华，他必打雷降雨，让你们知道并且看出，你们为自己求立王的事在耶和华眼前是犯大罪了。”Is it not wheat harvest to day? I will call unto the LORD, and he shall send thunder and rain; that ye may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which ye have done in the sight of the LORD, in asking you a king.
18于是撒母耳求告耶和华，耶和华就在这日打雷降雨，众百姓就非常惧怕耶和华和撒母耳。So Samuel called unto the LORD; and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day: and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel.
19众百姓对撒母耳说：“请你为仆人向耶和华－你的神祷告，免得我们死亡，因为我们求立王的事，正是罪上加罪了。”And all the people said unto Samuel, Pray for thy servants unto the LORD thy God, that we die not: for we have added unto all our sins this evil, to ask us a king.
20撒母耳对百姓说：“不要惧怕！你们虽然行了这恶，却不要偏离耶和华，只要尽心事奉他。And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not: ye have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart;
21不可偏离去随从那没有益处、不能救人的虚无的神明☛“虚无的神明”：原文是“虚无”。，因为它们是虚无的。And turn ye not aside: for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain.
22耶和华必因他大名的缘故不撇弃他的子民，因为耶和华喜悦你们作他的子民。For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name's sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people.
23至于我，我如果停止为你们祷告，就得罪耶和华了，我绝不会这样做。我必以善道正路指教你们。Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:
24但你们要敬畏耶和华，诚诚实实地尽心事奉他，因你们要留意，他向你们所行的事何等大。Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you.
25你们若不断作恶，你们和你们的王必一同灭亡。”But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both ye and your king.