撒母耳记上 8
1 撒母耳年纪老迈，就立他儿子作以色列的士师。
When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as judges over Israel.
2 长子名叫约珥，次子名叫亚比亚；他们在别是巴作士师。
The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second was Abijah. They were judges in Beersheba.
3 他儿子不行他的道，贪图财利，收受贿赂，屈枉正直。
But his sons did not walk in his ways; they turned aside toward dishonest gain, accepting bribes and perverting justice.
4 以色列的长老都聚集，来到拉玛见撒母耳，
So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah.
5 对他说：“你年纪老迈了，你儿子不行你的道。现在求你为我们立一个王治理我们，像列国一样。”
“Look,” they said, “you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint a king to judge us like all the other nations.”
6 撒母耳不喜悦他们说“立一个王治理我们”，他就祷告耶和华。
But when they said, “Give us a king to judge us,” their demand was displeasing in the sight of Samuel; so he prayed to the LORD.
7 耶和华对撒母耳说：“百姓向你说的一切话，你只管依从；因为他们不是厌弃你，乃是厌弃我，不要我作他们的王。
And the LORD said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you. For it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected Me as their king.
8 自从我领他们出埃及到如今，他们常常离弃我，事奉别神。现在他们向你所行的，是照他们素来所行的。
Just as they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking Me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you.
9 故此你要依从他们的话，只是当警戒他们，告诉他们将来那王怎样管辖他们。”
Now listen to them, but you must solemnly warn them and show them the manner of the king who will reign over them.”
10 撒母耳将耶和华的话都传给求他立王的百姓，说：
So Samuel spoke all the words of the LORD to the people who were asking him for a king.
11 “管辖你们的王必这样行：他必派你们的儿子为他赶车、跟马，奔走在车前；
He said, “This will be the manner of the king who will reign over you: He will take your sons and appoint them to his own chariots and horses, to run in front of his chariots.
12 又派他们作千夫长、五十夫长，为他耕种田地，收割庄稼，打造军器和车上的器械；
He will appoint some for himself as commanders of thousands and of fifties, and others to plow his ground, to reap his harvest, to make his weapons of war, and to equip his chariots.
13 必取你们的女儿为他制造香膏，做饭烤饼；
And he will take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks, and bakers.
14 也必取你们最好的田地、葡萄园、橄榄园赐给他的臣仆。
He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his servants.
15 你们的粮食和葡萄园所出的，他必取十分之一给他的太监和臣仆；
He will take a tenth of your grain and grape harvest and give it to his officials and servants.
16 又必取你们的仆人婢女，健壮的少年人和你们的驴，供他的差役。
And he will take your menservants and maidservants and your best cattle and donkeys and put them to his own use.
17 你们的羊群他必取十分之一，你们也必作他的仆人。
He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves.
18 那时你们必因所选的王哀求耶和华，耶和华却不应允你们。”
When that day comes, you will beg for relief from the king you have chosen, but the LORD will not answer you on that day.”
19 百姓竟不肯听撒母耳的话，说：“不然！我们定要一个王治理我们，
Nevertheless, the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We must have a king over us.
20 使我们像列国一样，有王治理我们，统领我们，为我们争战。”
Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to judge us, to go out before us, and to fight our battles.”
21 撒母耳听见百姓这一切话，就将这话陈明在耶和华面前。
Samuel listened to all the words of the people and repeated them in the hearing of the LORD.
22 耶和华对撒母耳说：“你只管依从他们的话，为他们立王。”撒母耳对以色列人说：“你们各归各城去吧！”
“Listen to their voice,” the LORD said to Samuel. “Appoint a king for them.” Then Samuel told the men of Israel, “Everyone must go back to his city.”
