The Message Bible MSG
The Latin Vulgate VUL
1 There was a man from the tribe of Benjamin named Kish. He was the son of Abiel, grandson of Zeror, great-grandson of Becorath, great-great-grandson of Aphiah - a Benjaminite of stalwart character.
1
et erat vir de Beniamin nomine Cis filius Abihel filii Seror filii Bechoreth filii Afia filii viri Iemini fortis robore
2 He had a son, Saul, a most handsome young man. There was none finer - he literally stood head and shoulders above the crowd!
2
et erat ei filius vocabulo Saul electus et bonus et non erat vir de filiis Israhel melior illo ab umero et sursum eminebat super omnem populum
3 Some of Kish's donkeys got lost. Kish said to his son, "Saul, take one of the servants with you and go look for the donkeys."
3
perierant autem asinae Cis patris Saul et dixit Cis ad Saul filium suum tolle tecum unum de pueris et consurgens vade et quaere asinas qui cum transissent per montem Ephraim
4 Saul took one of the servants and went to find the donkeys. They went into the hill country of Ephraim around Shalisha, but didn't find them. Then they went over to Shaalim - no luck. Then to Jabin, and still nothing.
4
et per terram Salisa et non invenissent transierunt etiam per terram Salim et non erant sed et per terram Iemini et minime reppererunt
5 When they got to Zuph, Saul said to the young man with him, "Enough of this. Let's go back. Soon my father is going to forget about the donkeys and start worrying about us."
5
cum autem venissent in terram Suph dixit Saul ad puerum suum qui erat cum eo veni et revertamur ne forte dimiserit pater meus asinas et sollicitus sit pro nobis
6 He replied, "Not so fast. There's a holy man in this town. He carries a lot of weight around here. What he says is always right on the mark. Maybe he can tell us where to go."
6
qui ait ei ecce est vir Dei in civitate hac vir nobilis omne quod loquitur absque ambiguitate venit nunc ergo eamus illuc si forte indicet nobis de via nostra propter quam venimus
7 Saul said, "If we go, what do we have to give him? There's no more bread in our sacks. We've nothing to bring as a gift to the holy man. Do we have anything else?"
7
dixitque Saul ad puerum suum ecce ibimus quid feremus ad virum panis defecit in sitarciis nostris et sportulam non habemus ut demus homini Dei nec quicquam aliud
8 The servant spoke up, "Look, I just happen to have this silver coin! I'll give it to the holy man and he'll tell us how to proceed!"
8
rursum puer respondit Sauli et ait ecce inventa est in manu mea quarta pars stateris argenti demus homini Dei ut indicet nobis viam nostram
9 (In former times in Israel, a person who wanted to seek God's word on a matter would say, "Let's visit the Seer," because the one we now call "the Prophet" used to be called "the Seer.")
9
olim in Israhel sic loquebatur unusquisque vadens consulere Deum venite et eamus ad videntem qui enim propheta dicitur hodie vocabatur olim videns
10 "Good," said Saul, "let's go." And they set off for the town where the holy man lived.
10
et dixit Saul ad puerum suum optimus sermo tuus veni eamus et ierunt in civitatem in qua erat vir Dei
11 As they were climbing up the hill into the town, they met some girls who were coming out to draw water. They said to them, "Is this where the Seer lives?"
11
cumque ascenderent clivum civitatis invenerunt puellas egredientes ad hauriendam aquam et dixerunt eis num hic est videns
12 They answered, "It sure is - just ahead. Hurry up. He's come today because the people have prepared a sacrifice at the shrine.
12
quae respondentes dixerunt illis hic est ecce ante te festina nunc hodie enim venit in civitate quia sacrificium est hodie populo in excelso
13 As soon as you enter the town, you can catch him before he goes up to the shrine to eat. The people won't eat until he arrives, for he has to bless the sacrifice. Only then can everyone eat. So get going. You're sure to find him!"
13
ingredientes urbem statim invenietis eum antequam ascendat excelsum ad vescendum neque enim comesurus est populus donec ille veniat quia ipse benedicit hostiae et deinceps comedunt qui vocati sunt nunc ergo conscendite quia hodie repperietis eum
14 They continued their climb and entered the city. And then there he was - Samuel! - coming straight toward them on his way to the shrine!
14
et ascenderunt in civitatem cumque illi ambularent in medio urbis apparuit Samuhel egrediens obviam eis ut ascenderet in excelsum
15 The very day before, God had confided in Samuel,
15
Dominus autem revelaverat auriculam Samuhel ante unam diem quam veniret Saul dicens
16 "This time tomorrow, I'm sending a man from the land of Benjamin to meet you. You're to anoint him as prince over my people Israel. He will free my people from Philistine oppression. Yes, I know all about their hard circumstances. I've heard their cries for help."
16
hac ipsa quae nunc est hora cras mittam ad te virum de terra Beniamin et ungues eum ducem super populum meum Israhel et salvabit populum meum de manu Philisthinorum quia respexi populum meum venit enim clamor eorum ad me
17 The moment Samuel laid eyes on Saul, God said, "He's the one, the man I told you about. This is the one who will keep my people in check."
17
cumque aspexisset Samuhel Saulem Dominus ait ei ecce vir quem dixeram tibi iste dominabitur populo meo
18 Saul came up to Samuel in the street and said, "Pardon me, but can you tell me where the Seer lives?"
18
accessit autem Saul ad Samuhelem in medio portae et ait indica oro mihi ubi est domus videntis
19 "I'm the Seer," said Samuel. "Accompany me to the shrine and eat with me. In the morning I'll tell you all about what's on your mind, and send you on your way.
19
et respondit Samuhel Sauli dicens ego sum videns ascende ante me in excelsum ut comedatis mecum hodie et dimittam te mane et omnia quae sunt in corde tuo indicabo tibi
20 And by the way, your lost donkeys - the ones you've been hunting for the last three days - have been found, so don't worry about them. At this moment, Israel's future is in your hands."
20
et de asinis quas perdidisti nudius tertius ne sollicitus sis quia inventae sunt et cuius erunt optima quaeque Israhel nonne tibi et omni domui patris tui
21 Saul answered, "But I'm only a Benjaminite, from the smallest of Israel's tribes, and from the most insignificant clan in the tribe at that. Why are you talking to me like this?"
21
respondens autem Saul ait numquid non filius Iemini ego sum de minima tribu Israhel et cognatio mea novissima inter omnes familias de tribu Beniamin quare ergo locutus es mihi sermonem istum
22 Samuel took Saul and his servant and led them into the dining hall at the shrine and seated them at the head of the table. There were about thirty guests.
22
adsumens itaque Samuhel Saulem et puerum eius introduxit eos in triclinium et dedit eis locum in capite eorum qui fuerant invitati erant enim quasi triginta viri
23 Then Samuel directed the chef, "Bring the choice cut I pointed out to you, the one I told you to reserve."
23
dixitque Samuhel coco da partem quam dedi tibi et praecepi ut reponeres seorsum apud te
24 The chef brought it and placed it before Saul with a flourish, saying, "This meal was kept aside just for you. Eat! It was especially prepared for this time and occasion with these guests."
24
levavit autem cocus armum et posuit ante Saul dixitque Samuhel ecce quod remansit pone ante te et comede quia de industria servatum est tibi quando populum vocavi et comedit Saul cum Samuhel in die illa
25 Afterward they went down from the shrine into the city. A bed was prepared for Saul on the breeze-cooled roof of Samuel's house.
25
et descenderunt de excelso in oppidum et locutus est cum Saul in solario
26 They woke at the break of day. Samuel called to Saul on the roof, "Get up and I'll send you off." Saul got up and the two of them went out in the street.
26
cumque mane surrexissent et iam dilucesceret vocavit Samuhel Saul in solarium dicens surge ut dimittam te et surrexit Saul egressique sunt ambo ipse videlicet et Samuhel
27 As they approached the outskirts of town, Samuel said to Saul, "Tell your servant to go on ahead of us. You stay with me for a bit. I have a word of God to give you."
27
cumque descenderent in extrema parte civitatis Samuhel dixit ad Saul dic puero ut antecedat nos et transeat tu autem subsiste paulisper ut indicem tibi verbum Domini
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.
The Latin Vulgate is in the public domain.