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 old, 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。
Now the name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah. They were judges in Beersheba.
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。
His sons didn’t walk in his ways, but turned away after dishonest gain, 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。」
They said to him, “Behold, you are old, and your sons don’t walk in your ways. Now make 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。
But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” Samuel prayed to 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。
The LORD said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in all that they tell you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me as the king 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 works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, in that they have forsaken me and served other gods, so they also do to you.
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。」
Now therefore, listen to their voice. However, you shall protest solemnly to them, and shall show them the way of the king who will 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，
Samuel told all the LORD’s words to the people who asked him for 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：
He said, “This will be the way of the king who shall reign over you: he will take your sons and appoint them as his servants, for his chariots and to be his horsemen; and they will 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；
He will appoint them to him for captains of thousands and captains of fifties; and he will assign some to plough his ground and to reap his harvest; and to make his instruments of war and the instruments of his chariots.
13 要徵用你們的女兒為他配製香料，烹調食物；
He will take your daughters to be perfumers, to be cooks, and to be bakers.
14 要拿你們最好的莊田、葡萄園和橄欖林，賜給他的臣僕；
He will take your fields, your vineyards, and your olive groves, even your best, and give them 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；
He will take one tenth of your seed and of your vineyards, and give it to his officers and to his servants.
16 使用你們的僕婢和你們最好的牛驢，替他作工；
He will take your male servants, your female servants, your best young men, and your donkeys, and assign them to his own 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 one tenth of your flocks; and you will 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。」
You will cry out in that day because of your king whom you will have chosen for yourselves; and the LORD 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。
But the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel; and they said, “No, but we will have 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 that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.”
21 撒慕爾聽見百姓所說的這一切話，就轉告給上主聽。
Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of the 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。」
The LORD said to Samuel, “Listen to their voice, and make them a king.” Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Everyone go to your own city.”
