Kings I 8
1 And it came to pass when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel.
撒慕爾年老的時候，立了他的兩個兒子作以色列的民長。
2 And these [are] the names of his sons; Joel the firstborn, and the name of the second Abia, judges in Bersabee.
長子名叫約厄耳，次子名叫阿彼雅，同在貝爾舍巴作民長。
3 And his sons did not walk in his way; and they turned aside after gain, and took gifts, and perverted judgements.
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。
4 And the men of Israel gather themselves together, and come to Armathaim to Samuel,
以色列眾長老便聯合起來，往辣瑪去見撒慕爾，
5 and they said to him, Behold, you are grown old, and your sons walk not in your way; and now set over us a king to judge us, as also the other nations [have].
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。」
6 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.
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。
7 And the Lord said to Samuel, Hear the voice of the people, in whatever they shall say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from reigning over them.
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。
8 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 you.
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。
9 And now listen to their voice; only you shall solemnly testify to them, and you shall describe to them the manner of the king who shall reign over them.
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。」
10 And Samuel spoke every word of the Lord to the people who asked of him a king.
撒慕爾把上主的一切話，轉告給那向他要求君王的人民，
11 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 amongst his horsemen, and running before his chariots,
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：
12 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.
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；
13 And he will take your daughters to be perfumers, and cooks, and bakers.
要徵用你們的女兒為他配製香料，烹調食物；
14 And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your good olive yards, and give them to his servants.
要拿你們最好的莊田、葡萄園和橄欖林，賜給他的臣僕；
15 And he will take the tithe of your seeds and your vineyards, and give [it] to his eunuchs, and to his servants.
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；
16 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.
使用你們的僕婢和你們最好的牛驢，替他作工；
17 And he will tithe your flocks; and you shall be his servants.
徵收你們的羊群十分之一；至於你們自己，還應作他的奴隸。
18 And you shall cry out in that day because of your king whom you have chosen to yourselves, and the Lord shall not hear you in those days, because you have chosen to yourselves a king.
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。」
19 But the people would not listen to Samuel; and they said to him, Nay, but there shall be a king over us.
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。
20 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.
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。」
21 And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and spoke them in the ears of the Lord.
撒慕爾聽見百姓所說的這一切話，就轉告給上主聽。
22 And the Lord said to Samuel, Listen to their voice, and appoint them a king. And Samuel said to the men of Israel, Let each man depart to his city.
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。」
