1 Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah, the son of a Benjamite, a mighty man of valor. 2 He had a son whose name was Saul, an impressive young man; and there was not among the children of Israel a more handsome person than he. From his shoulders and upward he was taller than any of the people.

3 The donkeys of Kish, Saul’s father, were lost. Kish said to Saul his son, "Now take one of the servants with you, and arise, go look for the donkeys." 4 He passed through the hill country of Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalishah, but they didn’t find them. Then they passed through the land of Shaalim, and they weren’t there. Then he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they didn’t find them.

5 When they had come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant who was with him, "Come! Let’s return, lest my father stop caring about the donkeys and be anxious for us."

6 The servant said to him, "Behold now, there is a man of God in this city, and he is a man who is held in honor. All that he says surely happens. Now let’s go there. Perhaps he can tell us which way to go."

7 Then Saul said to his servant, "But behold, if we go, what should we bring the man? For the bread is spent in our sacks, and there is not a present to bring to the man of God. What do we have?"

8 The servant answered Saul again and said, "Behold, I have in my hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver. I will give that to the man of God, to tell us our way." 9 (In earlier times in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, he said, "Come! Let’s go to the seer;" for he who is now called a prophet was before called a seer.)

10 Then Saul said to his servant, "Well said. Come! Let’s go." So they went to the city where the man of God was. 11 As they went up the ascent to the city, they found young maidens going out to draw water, and said to them, "Is the seer here?"

12 They answered them and said, "He is. Behold, he is before you. Hurry now, for he has come today into the city; for the people have a sacrifice today in the high place. 13 As soon as you have come into the city, you will immediately find him before he goes up to the high place to eat; for the people will not eat until he comes, because he blesses the sacrifice. Afterwards those who are invited eat. Now therefore go up; for at this time you will find him."

14 They went up to the city. As they came within the city, behold, Samuel came out toward them to go up to the high place.

15 Now Yahweh had revealed to Samuel a day before Saul came, saying, 16 "Tomorrow about this time I will send you a man out of the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be prince over my people Israel. He will save my people out of the hand of the Philistines; for I have looked upon my people, because their cry has come to me."

17 When Samuel saw Saul, Yahweh said to him, "Behold, the man of whom I spoke to you! He will have authority over my people."

18 Then Saul approached Samuel in the gateway, and said, "Please tell me where the seer’s house is."

19 Samuel answered Saul and said, "I am the seer. Go up before me to the high place, for you are to eat with me today. In the morning I will let you go and will tell you all that is in your heart. 20 As for your donkeys who were lost three days ago, don’t set your mind on them, for they have been found. For whom does all Israel desire? Is it not you and all your father’s house?"

21 Saul answered, "Am I not a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? And my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then do you speak to me like this?"

22 Samuel took Saul and his servant and brought them into the guest room, and made them sit in the best place among those who were invited, who were about thirty persons. 23 Samuel said to the cook, "Bring the portion which I gave you, of which I said to you, ‘Set it aside.’" 24 The cook took up the thigh, and that which was on it, and set it before Saul. Samuel said, "Behold, that which has been reserved! Set it before yourself and eat; because it has been kept for you for the appointed time, for I said, ‘I have invited the people.’" So Saul ate with Samuel that day.

25 When they had come down from the high place into the city, he talked with Saul on the housetop. 26 They arose early; and about daybreak, Samuel called to Saul on the housetop, saying, "Get up, that I may send you away." Saul arose, and they both went outside, he and Samuel, together. 27 As they were going down at the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, "Tell the servant to go on ahead of us." He went ahead, then Samuel said, "But stand still first, that I may cause you to hear God’s message."

1 Na tera tetahi tangata o Pinemine, ko Kihi tona ingoa, he tama na Apiere, tama a Teroro, tama a Pekorata, tama a Apiaha, he Pineamini, he tangata marohirohi.

2 He tama ano tana, ko tona ingoa ko Haora, he taitama, he ataahua, he pai, kahore he tangata o nga tama a Iharaira i ataahua atu i a ia; purero tonu ona pokohiwi ki runga ake i te iwi katoa.

3 Na kua ngaro nga kaihe a Kihi papa o Haora, a ka mea a Kihi ki a Haora, ki tana tama, Tangohia tetahi o nga tamariki hei hoa mou, whakatika, haere ki te rapu i nga kaihe.

4 Na ka tika ia na te whenua pukepuke o Eparaima, a haere tonu na te whenua o Hariha; heoi kihai i kitea: katahi raua ka tika na te whenua o Harimi, heoi kahore noa iho; na ka haere ia na te whenua o nga Pineamini, a kahore i kitea.

5 A, no to raua taenga ki te whenua o Tupu, ka mea a Haora ki tana tangata, ki tona hoa, Haere mai, taua ka hoki; kei mutu te whakaaro o toku papa ki nga kaihe, a ka manukanuka ke ki a taua.

6 Na ka mea tera ki a ia, He tangata na te Atua tenei kei te pa nei, he tangata e whakahonoretia ana; mana pu ana kupu katoa: na kia haere taua ki reira; tera pea e korerotia mai e ia ki a taua te haere e haere nei taua.

7 Ano ra ko Haora ki tana tangata, Engari, ki te haere taua he aha te mea hei mauranga atu ma taua ki taua tangata, kua hemo nei hoki te taro i roto i a taua putea, a kahore he hakari hei kawenga atu ki taua tangata a te Atua: he aha oti ta taua?

8 Na ka whakahoki taua tangata ki ta Haora, ka mea, Nana, ko te whakawha tenei o te hekere hiriwa kei toku ringa: me hoatu e ahau ki taua tangata a te Atua, kia whakaaturia mai e ia to taua ara ki a taua.

9 I mua hoki i roto i a Iharaira, ina haere te tangata ki te ui tikanga i te Atua, ko tana ki tenei, Hoake, taua ka haere ki te matakite: he matakite hoki ta mua ingoa mo te poropiti.

10 Na ka mea a Haora ki tana tangata, Ka pai tau kupu; hoatu, taua ka haere. Na haere ana raua ki te pa kei reira nei taua tangata a te Atua.

11 I a raua e piki ana i te pikitanga ki te pa, ka tutaki raua ki etahi kotiro e puta mai ana ki te utu wai. Na ka mea raua ki a ratou, Tenei ranei te matakite?

12 Na ka whakahoki ratou ki a raua, ka mea, Tenei ano; nana, kei mua atu i a koe na: hohoro atu inaianei tonu, no tenei ra hoki ia i tae mai ai ki te pa; he patunga tapu hoki ta te iwi nei aianei i te wahi tiketike.

13 Tomo kau korua ki te pa, ka tupono korua ki a ia i te mea kahore ano i piki noa ki te wahi tiketike ki te kai: e kore hoki te iwi e kai kia tae atu ra ano ia; ko ia hoki hei whakapai i te patunga tapu, muri iho ka kai te hunga i karangatia. Heoi, piki atu; ko te wa hoki tenei e kitea ai ia e korua.

14 Na piki ana raua ki te pa; a ka uru atu raua ki roto ki te pa, ko Hamuera kua puta; tutaki tonu ki a raua; e piki ana ki te wahi tiketike.

15 Na kua whakapuakina e Ihowa ki a Hamuera i te ra i mua atu i te taenga mai o Haora, kua mea,

16 Kia penei apopo ka unga atu e ahau ki a koe tetahi tangata no te whenua o Pineamine, na me whakawahi ia e koe hei rangatira mo taku iwi, mo Iharaira, a mana e whakaora taku iwi i te ringa o nga Pirihitini: kua titiro atu hoki ahau ki taku iwi, n o te mea kua tae ake ta ratou karanga ki ahau.

17 A, no te kitenga o Hamuera i a Haora, ka mea a Ihowa ki a ia, Ko te tangata tenei i korerotia ra e ahau ki a koe. Mana e whakahaere tikanga mo taku iwi.

18 Katahi ka whakatata a Haora ki a Hamuera, ki te kuwaha, ka mea, Tena koe, whakaaturia mai ki ahau, kei hea te whare o te matakite.

19 Na ka whakahoki a Hamuera ki a Haora, ka mea, Ko ahau te matakite: piki atu i mua i ahau ki te wahi tiketike, ka kai tahi hoki korua i ahau aianei; a ka tukua atu koe e ahau i te ata, ka whakaaturia hoki ki a koe nga mea katoa i tou ngakau.

20 A ko au kaihe, ka toru nei nga ra e ngaro ana, kaua tou ngakau e whai ki era; kua kitea hoki. Kei a wai koia te hiahia katoa o Iharaira? he teka ianei kei a koe, kei te whare katoa ano hoki o tou papa?

21 Na ka whakahokia e Haora, ka mea, He teka ianei he Pineamini ahau, no te iti rawa o nga iwi o Iharaira, ko toku hapu hoki te iti rawa o nga hapu katoa o te iwi o Pineamine? he aha ra ena kupu i puaki mai ai i a koe?

22 Na ka mau a Hamuera ki a Haora raua ko tana tangata, a kawea ana ki te whare, a hoatu ana e ia he nohoanga ki a raua i runga ake o te hunga i karangatia; e toru tekau ano hoki ratou.

23 Na ka mea a Hamuera ki te tuari, Homai te wahi i hoatu e ahau ki a koe, tera i kiia atu ra e ahau ki a koe, Kia takoto tena ki a koe.

24 Na hapainga ana e te tuari te huha me ona aha noa, a whakatakotoria ana ki te aroaro o Haora. Na ka mea a Hamuera, Nana, ko te wahi i tohungia na, waiho i tou aroaro hei kai mau: he mea rongoa tonu hoki mau a tae noa ki tenei wa, no taku kianga, He hunga tenei kua karangatia e ahau. Na kai tahi ana a Haora raua ko Hamuera i taua ra.

25 A, i to ratou hekenga iho i te wahi tiketike ki te pa, ka korero ia ki a Haora i runga i te tuanui.

26 Na ka maranga wawe ratou: a i te mea ka puta ake te ra, ka karangatia a Haora e Hamuera ki runga ki te tuanui, i mea ia, Whakatika, kia unga atu koe e ahau. Na ka whakatika a Haora, a puta atu ana raua tokorua, a ia, a Hamuera, ki waho.

27 I a raua e heke ana i te pito o te pa, ka mea a Hamuera ki a Haora, Mea atu ki te tangata ra kia haere atu ki mua i a taua; katahi tera ka haere; ko koe ia, tu marie koe, kia whakapuakina atu e ahau ki a koe te kupu a te Atua.