¹ A sinovi Izrailjevi opet činiše što je zlo pred Gospodom, i Gospod ih dade u ruke Filistejima za četrdeset godina.

² A beše jedan čovek od Saraje od plemena sinova Danovih, po imenu Manoje, i žena mu beše nerotkinja, i ne rađaše.

³ Toj ženi javi se anđeo Gospodnji i reče joj: Gle, ti si sad nerotkinja, i nisi rađala; ali ćeš zatrudneti i rodićeš sina.

⁴ Nego sada čuvaj se da ne piješ vino ni silovito piće, i da ne jedeš ništa nečisto.

⁵ Jer gle, zatrudnećeš, i rodićeš sina, i britva da ne pređe po njegovoj glavi, jer će dete biti nazirej Božji od utrobe materine, i on će početi izbavljati Izrailja iz ruku filistejskih.

⁶ I žena dođe i reče mužu svom govoreći: Čovek Božji dođe k meni, i lice mu beše kao lice anđela Božjeg, vrlo strašno; ali ga ne zapitah odakle je, niti mi on kaza svoje ime.

⁷ Nego mi reče: Gle, ti ćeš zatrudneti, i rodićeš sina; zato sada ne pij vino ni silovito piće i ne jedi ništa nečisto; jer će dete biti nazirej Božji od utrobe materine pa do smrti.

⁸ Tada se Manoje pomoli Gospodu i reče: O Gospode! Neka opet dođe k nama čovek Božji, kog si slao, da nas nauči šta ćemo činiti sa detetom, kad se rodi.

⁹ I usliši Gospod glas Manojev; i dođe opet anđeo Gospodnji k ženi kad seđaše u polju; a Manoje muž njen ne beše kod nje.

¹⁰ Tada žena brže otrča i javi mužu svom govoreći mu: Evo, javi mi se onaj čovek, koji mi je pre dolazio.

¹¹ A Manoje ustavši pođe sa ženom svojom; i kad dođe k čoveku, reče mu: Jesi li ti onaj čovek što je govorio ovoj ženi? On odgovori: Jesam.

¹² A Manoje reče: Kad bude šta si kazao, kako će biti pravilo za dete i šta će činiti s njim?

¹³ A anđeo Gospodnji reče Manoju: Žena neka se čuva od svega što sam joj kazao.

¹⁴ Neka ne jede ništa što dolazi s vinove loze, i vino ni silovito piće neka ne pije, i ništa nečisto neka ne jede. Šta sam joj zapovedio sve neka drži.

¹⁵ Tada reče Manoje anđelu Gospodnjem: Radi bismo te ustaviti da ti zgotovimo jare,

¹⁶ A anđeo Gospodnji odgovori Manoju: Da me i ustaviš, neću jesti tvoje jelo; nego ako hoćeš zgotovi žrtvu paljenicu, prinesi je Gospodu. Jer Manoje nije znao da je anđeo Gospodnji.

¹⁷ Opet reče Manoje anđelu Gospodnjem: Kako ti je ime? Da ti zahvalimo kad se zbude šta si rekao.

¹⁸ A anđeo Gospodnji odgovori mu: Što pitaš za ime moje? Čudno je.

¹⁹ Tada Manoje uze jare i dar, i prinese Gospodu na steni; a anđeo učini čudo pred Manom i ženom njegovom;

²⁰ Jer kad se podiže plamen s oltara k nebu, anđeo Gospodnji podiže se u plamenu s oltara; a Manoje i žena njegova videći to padoše ničice na zemlju;

²¹ A anđeo se Gospodnji ne javi više Manoju ni ženi njegovoj. Tada Manoje razume da je anđeo Gospodnji.

²² I reče Manoje ženi svojoj: Zacelo ćemo umreti, jer videsmo Boga.

²³ A žena mu reče: Kad bi hteo Bog da nas ubije, ne bi primio iz naših ruku žrtvu paljenicu ni dar, niti bi nam pokazao sve ovo, niti bi nam sad objavio takve stvari.

²⁴ I tako ta žena rodi sina, i nade mu ime Samson; i dete odraste, i Gospod ga blagoslovi.

²⁵ I duh Gospodnji poče hoditi s njim po logoru Danovom, između Saraje i Estaola.

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 better person than he. From his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people.

³ The donkeys of Kish, Saul's father, were lost. Kish said to Saul his son, "Take now one of the servants with you, and arise, go seek 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 there they weren't there: and 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, and let us return, lest my father stop caring about the donkeys, and be anxious for us."

⁶ He said to him, "See now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is a man who is held in honor. All that he says comes surely to pass. Now let us go there. Perhaps he can tell us concerning our journey whereon we go."

⁷ Then Saul said to his servant, "But, behold, if we go, what shall we bring the man? For the bread is spent in our vessels, 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, thus he said, "Come, and let us 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 us 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 shall immediately find him, before he goes up to the high place to eat; for the people will not eat until he come, because he blesses the sacrifice. Afterwards those who are invited eat. Now therefore go up; for at this time you shall find him."

¹⁴ They went up to the city; [and] 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; and he shall save my people out of the hand of the Philistines: for I have looked on 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! this same shall have authority over my people."

¹⁸ Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, 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 shall 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 are found. For whom is all that is desirable in Israel? Is it not for you, and for 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 for the appointed time has it been kept for you, 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 it happened about the spring of the day, that Samuel called to Saul on the housetop, saying, "Get up, that I may send you away." Saul arose, and they went out both of them, he and Samuel, abroad.

²⁷ As they were going down at the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, "Tell the servant pass on before us" (and he passed on), "but stand still first, that I may cause you to hear the word of God."