But Samuel said,“ Then why do I hear the baaing of sheep? Why do I hear the mooing of cattle?”

撒母耳说：“我耳中听见有羊叫、牛鸣，是从哪里来的呢？”

撒母耳说：“我耳中听见有羊叫、牛鸣的声音，又是什么呢？”

撒母耳说：“我耳中听见有羊叫、牛鸣的声音，又是什么呢？”

撒母耳说：“那么，我现在听见的牛羊叫声是从哪里来的？”

撒母耳说：“我耳中听见有羊叫牛鸣的声音，到底是什么呢？”

撒母耳说：“那么我耳中这羊叫的声音、我所听见的牛叫声，是怎么回事呢？”

撒母耳說：「我耳中聽見有羊叫、牛鳴，是從哪裏來的呢？」

撒母耳說：「我耳中聽見有羊叫、牛鳴的聲音，又是甚麼呢？」

撒母耳說：「我耳中聽見有羊叫、牛鳴的聲音，又是甚麼呢？」

撒母耳說：「那麼，我現在聽見的牛羊叫聲是從哪裡來的？」

撒母耳說：“我耳中聽見有羊叫牛鳴的聲音，到底是甚麼呢？”

撒母耳說：『那麼傳入我耳中的這羊叫的聲音、和我所聽見牛叫的聲音，都是怎麼回事啊？』

撒母耳說：「那麼我耳中這羊叫的聲音、我所聽見的牛叫聲，是怎麼回事呢？」

撒母耳曰、然則我聞羊鳴牛鳴、是何意耶、

撒母耳曰、羊鳴牛吼、入於我耳、是何故與。

撒母耳曰、若然、則入我耳之羊鳴、我所聞之牛吼、由何至歟、

But Samuel said,“ What then is this bleating of sheep in my ears? What is this lowing of cattle that I hear?”

And Samuel said,“ What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears and the lowing of the oxen that I hear?”

“ Then what is all the bleating of sheep and goats and the lowing of cattle I hear?” Samuel demanded.

Samuel replied,“ Then what is this sound of sheep, goats, and cattle I hear?”

But Samuel said,“ What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears, and the bellowing of the oxen which I hear?”

But Samuel said,“ What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?”

And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?

Samuel replied,“ Then what is this sound of sheep and cattle I hear?”

And Samuel said, What[ meaneth] then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?

Samuel replied,“ If that is the case, then what is this sound of sheep in my ears and the sound of cattle that I hear?”

Samuel said,“ Then what does this bleating of the sheep in my ears, and the lowing of the cattle which I hear mean?”

So don’t judge anything before the appointed time. Wait until the Lord returns. He will bring to light what is hidden in the dark. He will show the real reasons why people do what they do. At that time each person will receive their praise from God.

They praise themselves so much that they can’t see their sin or hate it.

But here is what God says to a sinful person.“ What right do you have to speak the words of my laws? How dare you speak the words of my covenant!You hate my teaching. You turn your back on what I say.When you see a thief, you join him. You make friends with those who commit adultery.You use your mouth to speak evil. You use your tongue to spread lies.You are a witness against your brother. You always tell lies about your own mother’s son.When you did these things, I kept silent. So you thought I was just like you. But now I’m going to bring you to court. I will bring charges against you.

What the law says, it says to those who are ruled by the law. Its purpose is to shut every mouth and make the whole world accountable to God.

The blood of those you have killed is on your clothes. You have destroyed poor people who were not guilty. You did not catch them in the act of breaking in. In spite of all this,you say,‘ I’m not guilty of doing anything wrong. The Lord isn’t angry with me.’ But I will judge you. That’s because you say,‘ I haven’t sinned.’Why do you keep on changing your ways so much? Assyria did not help you. And Egypt will not help you either.So you will also leave Egypt with your hands tied together above your heads. I have turned my back on those you trust. They will not help you.

Why do you go to Egypt to drink water from the Nile River? Why do you go to Assyria to drink from the Euphrates River?You will be punished because you have sinned. You will be corrected for turning away from me. I am the Lord your God. If you desert me, bad things will happen to you. If you do not respect me, you will suffer bitterly. I want you to understand that,” announces the Lord who rules over all.

You might wash yourself with soap. You might use plenty of strong soap. But I can still see the stains your guilt covers you with,” announces the Lord and King.“ You say,‘ I am“ clean.” I haven’t followed the gods that are named Baal.’ How can you say that? Remember how you acted in the valley. Consider what you have done. You are like a female camel running quickly here and there.

“ You have spoken with pride against me,” says the Lord.“ But you ask,‘ What have we spoken against you?’“ You have said,‘ It is useless to serve God. What do we gain by obeying his laws? And what do we get by pretending to be sad in front of the Lord?But now we call proud people blessed. Things go well with those who do what is evil. And God doesn’t even punish those who test him.’ ”

“ His master replied,‘ I will judge you by your own words, you evil slave! So you knew that I am a hard man? You knew that I take out what I did not put in? You knew that I harvest what I did not plant?