1 Samuel 8
1 And it happened that, when Samuel had become old, he appointed his sons as 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 Now the name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of the second was Abijah: judges at Beersheba.
長子名叫約厄耳，次子名叫阿彼雅，同在貝爾舍巴作民長。
3 But his sons did not walk in his ways. Instead, they turned aside, pursuing avarice. And they accepted bribes, and they perverted judgment.
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 Therefore, all those greater by birth of Israel, having gathered together, went to Samuel at Ramah.
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 elderly, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Appoint for us a king, so that he may judge us, just as all the 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 word was displeasing in the eyes of Samuel, for they had 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 Then the Lord said to Samuel: “Listen to the voice of the people in all that they are saying to you. For they have not rejected you, but me, lest I reign 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 In accord with all their works, which they have done from the day when I led them away from Egypt, even to this day: just as they have forsaken me, and served foreign gods, so now they also do 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 Now therefore, hear their voice. Yet truly, testify to them and foretell to them the rights of the king who will 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 so, Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people, who had petitioned a king from him.
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 will be the right of the king who will have authority over you: He will take your sons, and place them in his chariots. And he will make them his horsemen and his runners before his four-horse 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 he will appoint them to be his tribunes and centurions, and the plowmen of his fields, and the harvesters of the grain, and the makers of his weapons and 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 Likewise, your daughters he will take for himself as makers of ointments, and as cooks and bakers.
要徵用你們的女兒為他配製香料，烹調食物；
14 Also, he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your best olive groves, and he will 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 Moreover, he will take one tenth of your grain and of the results of your vineyards, so that he may give these to his eunuchs and 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 Then, too, he will take your servants, and handmaids, and your best young men, and your donkeys, and he will set them to his work.
使用你們的僕婢和你們最好的牛驢，替他作工；
17 Also, he will take a tenth of your flocks. And you will 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 will cry out, in that day, from the face of the king, whom you have chosen for yourselves. And the Lord will not heed you, in that day. For you requested a king for yourselves.”
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 were not willing to listen to the voice of Samuel. Instead, they said: “By no means! For 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 and we shall be just like all the Gentiles. And our king will judge us, and he will go out before us, and he will fight our wars for us.”
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 he spoke them to 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 Then the Lord said to Samuel, “Listen to their voice, and appoint a king over them.” And Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Let each one go to his own 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。」
