撒母耳記上 8
1 撒慕爾年老的時候，立了他的兩個兒子作以色列的民長。
And it came to pass when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel.
2 長子名叫約厄耳，次子名叫阿彼雅，同在貝爾舍巴作民長。
And the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abijah; they judged in Beer-sheba.
3 但是他這兩個兒子不走他所走的路，卻貪圖厚利，接受賄賂，歪曲正理。
And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted justice.
4 以色列眾長老便聯合起來，往辣瑪去見撒慕爾，
Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel to Ramah,
5 對他說：「看，你已經老了，你的兒子們不走你所走的路。如今請你給我們立一位君王治理我們，如同各國一樣。」
and said to him, Behold, thou art become old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now appoint us a king to judge us, like all the nations.
6 撒慕爾聽到他們要求說：「請給我們立一位君王治理我們，」大為不悅，便去祈求上主。
And the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed to Jehovah.
7 上主對撒慕爾說：「凡民眾向你所說的話，你都要聽從，因為他們不是拋棄你，而是拋棄我作他們的君王。
And Jehovah said to Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.
8 自從我領他們出離埃及直到今日，凡他們做的，無非是拋棄我而事奉別的神；他們現在也這樣來對待你。
According to all the deeds that they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, in that they have forsaken me and served other gods, so do they also unto thee.
9 好罷! 你就聽從他們的要求，但必須清楚警告他們，要他們明瞭那統治他們的君王所享有的權利。」
And now hearken unto their voice; only, testify solemnly unto them, and declare unto them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.
10 撒慕爾把上主的一切話，轉告給那向他要求君王的人民，
And Samuel spoke all the words of Jehovah to the people that asked of him a king.
11 說：「那要統治你們的君王所享有的權利是：他要徵用你們的兒子，去充當車夫馬夫，在他的車前奔走：
And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: he will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, on his chariot and among his horsemen, and they shall run before his chariots;
12 委派他們做千夫長、百夫長、五十夫長；令他們耕種他的田地，收割他的莊稼，替他製造作戰的武器和戰車的用具；
and [he will take them] that he may appoint for himself captains over thousands, and captains over fifties, and that they may plough his ground, and reap his harvest, and make his instruments of war and instruments of his chariots.
13 要徵用你們的女兒為他配製香料，烹調食物；
And he will take your daughters for perfumers, and cooks, and bakers.
14 要拿你們最好的莊田、葡萄園和橄欖林，賜給他的臣僕；
And your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, the best, will he take and give to his servants.
15 徵收你們莊田和葡萄園出產的十分之一，賜給他的宦官和臣僕；
And he will take the tenth of your seed and of your vineyards, and give to his chamberlains and to his servants.
16 使用你們的僕婢和你們最好的牛驢，替他作工；
And he will take your bondmen, and your bondwomen, and your comeliest young men, and your asses, and use them for his work.
17 徵收你們的羊群十分之一；至於你們自己，還應作他的奴隸。
He will take the tenth of your sheep. And ye shall be his servants.
18 到那一天，你們必要因你們所選的君王發出哀號；但那一天，上主也不理你們了。」
And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king whom ye have chosen; and Jehovah will not answer you in that day.
19 但是，人民不願聽從撒慕爾的話卻對他說：「不! 我們非要一位君王管理我們不可。
And the people refused to hearken to the voice of Samuel; and they said, No, but there shall be a king over us,
20 我們也要像一般異民一樣，有我們的君王來治理我們，率領我們出征作戰。」
that we also may be like all the nations; and our king shall judge us, and go out before us, and conduct our wars.
21 撒慕爾聽見百姓所說的這一切話，就轉告給上主聽。
And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he repeated them in the ears of Jehovah.
22 上主對撒慕爾說：「你聽從他們的話，給他們一位君王罷! 」撒慕爾就吩咐以色列人說：「你們各自暫回本城去。」
And Jehovah said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said to the men of Israel, Go ye every man to his city.
