撒母耳記上 8
1 撒母耳年紀老邁，就立他兒子作以色列的士師。
And it came to pass when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel.
2 長子名叫約珥，次子名叫亞比亞；他們在別是巴作士師。
And these [are] the names of his sons; Joel the first-born, and the name of the second Abia, judges in Bersabee.
3 他兒子不行他的道，貪圖財利，收受賄賂，屈枉正直。
And his sons did not walk in his way; and they turned aside after gain, and took gifts, and perverted judgments.
4 以色列的長老都聚集，來到拉瑪見撒母耳，
And the men of Israel gather themselves together, and come to Armathaim to Samuel,
5 對他說：「你年紀老邁了，你兒子不行你的道。現在求你為我們立一個王治理我們，像列國一樣。」
and they said to him, Behold, thou art grown old, and thy sons walk not in thy way; and now set over us a king to judge us, as also the other nations [have].
6 撒母耳不喜悅他們說「立一個王治理我們」，他就禱告耶和華。
And the thing [was] evil in the eyes of Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us: and Samuel prayed to the Lord.
7 耶和華對撒母耳說：「百姓向你說的一切話，你只管依從；因為他們不是厭棄你，乃是厭棄我，不要我作他們的王。
And the Lord said to Samuel, Hear the voice of the people, in whatever they shall say to thee; for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me from reigning over them.
8 自從我領他們出埃及到如今，他們常常離棄我，事奉別神。現在他們向你所行的，是照他們素來所行的。
According to all their doings which they have done to me, from the day that I brought them out of Egypt until this day, even [as] they have deserted me, and served other gods, so they do also to thee.
9 故此你要依從他們的話，只是當警戒他們，告訴他們將來那王怎樣管轄他們。」
And now hearken to their voice; only thou shalt solemnly testify to them, and thou shalt describe to them the manner of the king who shall reign over them.
10 撒母耳將耶和華的話都傳給求他立王的百姓，說：
And Samuel spoke every word of the Lord to the people who asked of him a king.
11 「管轄你們的王必這樣行：他必派你們的兒子為他趕車、跟馬，奔走在車前；
And he said, This shall be the manner of the king that shall rule over you: he shall take your sons, and put them in his chariots, and among his horsemen, and running before his chariots,
12 又派他們作千夫長、五十夫長，為他耕種田地，收割莊稼，打造軍器和車上的器械；
and [his manner shall be] to make them to himself captains of hundreds and captains of thousands; and to reap his harvest, and gather his vintage, and prepare his instruments of war, and the implements of his chariots.
13 必取你們的女兒為他製造香膏，做飯烤餅；
And he will take your daughters to be perfumers, and cooks, and bakers.
14 也必取你們最好的田地、葡萄園、橄欖園賜給他的臣僕。
And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your good oliveyards, and give them to his servants.
15 你們的糧食和葡萄園所出的，他必取十分之一給他的太監和臣僕；
And he will take the tithe of your seeds and your vineyards, and give [it] to his eunuchs, and to his servants.
16 又必取你們的僕人婢女，健壯的少年人和你們的驢，供他的差役。
And he will take your servants, and your handmaids, and your good herds and your asses, and will take the tenth of them for his works.
17 你們的羊群他必取十分之一，你們也必作他的僕人。
And he will tithe your flocks; and ye shall be his servants.
18 那時你們必因所選的王哀求耶和華，耶和華卻不應允你們。」
And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king whom ye have chosen to yourselves, and the Lord shall not hear you in those days, because ye have chosen to yourselves a king.
19 百姓竟不肯聽撒母耳的話，說：「不然！我們定要一個王治理我們，
But the people would not hearken to Samuel; and they said to him, Nay, but there shall be a king over us.
20 使我們像列國一樣，有王治理我們，統領我們，為我們爭戰。」
An we also will be like all the nations; and our king shall judge us, and shall go out before us, and fight our battles.
21 撒母耳聽見百姓這一切話，就將這話陳明在耶和華面前。
And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and spoke them in the ears of the Lord.
22 耶和華對撒母耳說：「你只管依從他們的話，為他們立王。」撒母耳對以色列人說：「你們各歸各城去吧！」
And the Lord said to Samuel, Hearken to their voice, and appoint them a king. And Samuel said to the men of Israel, Let each man depart to his city.
