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。
When Samuel was nowe become olde, he made his sonnes Iudges ouer 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 eldest sonne was Ioel, and the name of the second Abiah) euen Iudges 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 sonnes walked not in his wayes, but turned aside after lucre, and tooke rewards, and peruerted the iudgement.
4 以色列眾長老便聯合起來，往辣瑪去見撒慕爾，
Wherefore all the Elders of Israel gathered them together, and came to Samuel vnto 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 vnto him, Beholde, thou art olde, and thy sonnes walke not in thy wayes: make vs nowe a King to iudge vs like all 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。
But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Giue vs a King to iudge vs: and Samuel prayed vnto the Lord.
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 the Lord said vnto Samuel, Heare the voyce of the people in all that they shall say vnto thee: for they haue not cast thee away, but they haue cast me away, that I should not reigne ouer the.
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。
As they haue euer done since I brought them out of Egypt euen vnto this day, (and haue forsaken me, and serued other gods) euen so doe they vnto 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。」
Nowe therefore hearken vnto their voyce: howbeit yet testifie vnto them, and shewe them the maner of ye King that shall reigne ouer 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，
So Samuel told all the wordes of the Lord vnto the people that asked a King of him.
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 saide, This shall be the maner of the King that shall reigne ouer you: he will take your sonnes, and appoint them to his charets, and to be his horsemen, and some shall runne before his charet.
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；
Also he will make them his captaines ouer thousands, and captaines ouer fifties, and to eare his ground, and to reape his haruest, and to make instruments of warre, and the thinges that serue for his charets.
13 要徵用你們的女兒為他配製香料，烹調食物；
He will also take your daughters and make them apoticaries, and cookes, 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 he will take your fieldes, and your vineyardes, and your best Oliue trees, and giue them to his seruants.
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 seede, and of your vineyards, and giue it to his Eunuches, and to his seruants.
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 men seruants, and your maide seruants, and the chiefe of your yong men, and your asses, and put them to his worke.
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 sheepe, and ye shall be his seruants.
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 crie out at that day, because of your King, whom ye haue chosen you, and the Lord will not heare you at 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。
But the people would not heare the voyce of Samuel, but did say, Nay, but there shall be a King ouer vs.
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。」
And we also will be like all other nations, and our King shall iudge vs, and goe out before vs, and fight our battels.
21 撒慕爾聽見百姓所說的這一切話，就轉告給上主聽。
Therefore when Samuel heard all ye wordes of ye people, he rehearsed the in ye eares of ye Lord.
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 the Lord saide to Samuel, Hearken vnto their voyce, and make them a King. And Samuel said vnto the men of Israel, Goe euery man vnto his citie.
