1 Samuel 8
1 When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as judges over Israel.
撒母耳年紀老邁，就立他兒子作以色列的士師。
2 The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second was Abijah. They were judges in Beersheba.
長子名叫約珥，次子名叫亞比亞；他們在別是巴作士師。
3 But his sons did not walk in his ways; they turned aside toward dishonest gain, accepting bribes and perverting justice.
他兒子不行他的道，貪圖財利，收受賄賂，屈枉正直。
4 So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah.
以色列的長老都聚集，來到拉瑪見撒母耳，
5 “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.”
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。」
6 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.
撒母耳不喜悅他們說「立一個王治理我們」，他就禱告耶和華。
7 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.
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。
8 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.
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。
9 Now listen to them, but you must solemnly warn them and show them the manner of the king who will reign over them.”
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。」
10 So Samuel spoke all the words of the LORD to the people who were asking him for a king.
撒母耳將耶和華的話都傳給求他立王的百姓，說：
11 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.
「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；
12 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.
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；
13 And he will take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks, and bakers.
必取你們的女兒為他製造香膏，做飯烤餅；
14 He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his servants.
也必取你們最好的田地、葡萄園、橄欖園賜給他的臣僕。
15 He will take a tenth of your grain and grape harvest and give it to his officials and servants.
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；
16 And he will take your menservants and maidservants and your best cattle and donkeys and put them to his own use.
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。
17 He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves.
你們的羊群他必取十分之一，你們也必作他的僕人。
18 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.”
那時你們必因所選的王哀求耶和華，耶和華卻不應允你們。」
19 Nevertheless, the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We must have a king over us.
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，
20 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.”
使我們像列國一樣，有王治理我們，統領我們，為我們爭戰。」
21 Samuel listened to all the words of the people and repeated them in the hearing of the LORD.
撒母耳聽見百姓這一切話，就將這話陳明在耶和華面前。
22 “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.”
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！」
