SARAH
《撒母耳记下》23:1–7
2 Samuel 23:1–7
大卫这一辈子，啥场面都经历过了。
David had been through just about everything in his lifetime.
年轻时候放羊，后来打仗、当王，还被扫罗追过满山躲；后来又遭到自己儿子押沙龙的背叛，差点王位和命都没了。
When he was young, he was a shepherd. Later, he became a warrior and a king, and even had to run from Saul and hide in the mountains. Then his own son Absalom betrayed him, nearly costing him both his throne and his life.
现在大卫岁数大了，知道自己快走到尽头了。
Now David was old, and he knew that his life was coming to an end.
临走之前，他坐那儿，自言自语，就说了这么一番话。
Before he died, he sat there and reflected on his life, saying these final words.
大卫说：
David said:
“我是谁呢？
“Who am I?
我是耶西家的大卫，是那个被神选上、膏立成王的人。
I am David, the son of Jesse—the man God chose and anointed to be king.
我这一辈子，能走到今天，可不是我自己多能耐。
I didn’t get this far because I was so capable on my own.
那都是神一路带着我。
God was the One who carried me and led me every step of the way.
神的话也曾经借着我说出来。”
And God’s word was spoken through me.”
大卫又说：
David continued:
“以色列的神，我的磐石告诉我：
“The God of Israel, my Rock, has told me:
一个当领导的、当王的，要是能按着公义办事，又敬畏神，那这个国家就有福了。
If a leader, especially a king, rules with righteousness and fears God, that nation will be blessed.
这样的人治理百姓，就像啥呢？
What is a ruler like that compared to?
就像太阳刚升起来的时候——
Like the sun rising in the morning—
天老亮亮的，清清爽爽的，一点云彩没有。
the sky is bright and clear, without a cloud in sight.
又像下完雨以后，太阳出来照在地上，
It is like the sunshine after the rain,
那草啊，一下子就冒出来了，
when the grass suddenly springs up,
满地都是生机。
and the whole land comes alive.
这就说明，一个敬畏神、按公义治理的人，
This shows that a leader who fears God and rules with righteousness
他给老百姓带来的，是盼头，是平安，是希望。”
brings hope, peace, and a better future to the people.”
然后，大卫突然话锋一转。
Then David suddenly changed direction.
他说：
He said:
“但是吧……
“But here’s the thing…
我自己这个家，在神面前，并没有完全做到这么好。”
my own family has not always lived this way before God.”
这句话其实挺沉重的。
Those words carried a lot of weight.
因为大卫虽然是以色列最伟大的王之一，但他家里这些年，真是没少出事。
David was one of Israel’s greatest kings, but his family had been through a whole lot of trouble over the years.
儿子之间互相残杀，
His sons fought against one another,
押沙龙还背叛自己的亲爹，
Absalom even betrayed his own father,
整个王室折腾得凄凄惨惨。
and the whole royal family went through heartbreaking turmoil.
大卫知道：
David knew:
人再有能耐，也不是完美的。
No matter how capable a person is, nobody is perfect.
但是大卫紧接着又说：
But David immediately continued:
“不过，神跟我立了一个永远的约。
“Nevertheless, God has made an everlasting covenant with me.
这个约是牢靠的，是稳稳当当的。
That covenant is secure and firmly established.
神答应我的事，不会因为我这个人有缺点，就说不算数了。
What God has promised will not become meaningless simply because I have my weaknesses and failures.
我这一辈子所有的拯救，
All the deliverance I have experienced throughout my life,
我心里所有真正的盼望，
and every true hope in my heart,
难道不是神在一步一步成就吗？
haven’t they all been brought about by God, step by step?
我相信，
I believe
神会让这一切继续成长、继续实现。”
God will continue to bring His purposes to life and fulfill what He has promised.”
说到这儿，大卫又提醒了一件事。
At this point, David gave one more warning.
他说：
He said:
“但是那些不敬畏神、作恶的人呢？
“But what about those who do not fear God and continue to do evil?
他们就跟荆棘一样。
They are like thorns.
荆棘这玩意儿，你敢直接拿手抓吗？
Would you dare grab thorns with your bare hands?
那不得扎得你惨叫？
They’d tear you up pretty bad, wouldn’t they?
所以人碰见荆棘，都是拿铁器、枪杆子把它清理掉。
That’s why people use iron tools or weapons to clear them away.
最后呢？
And in the end?
直接烧了。”
They are burned up.”
意思就是：
The meaning is:
敬畏神、按公义活的人，好比雨后的嫩草，有生命、有盼望；
Those who fear God and live righteously are like fresh grass after the rain—full of life and hope.
拒绝神、一直作恶的人，就像扎人的荆棘，最后只能被清除、被审判。
Those who reject God and continue in evil are like painful thorns—eventually removed and judged.