1 Samuel 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 Now the name of his first-born was Joel; and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judges in Beer-sheba.
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 walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted justice.
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 Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah.
以色列眾長老便聯合起來，往辣瑪去見撒慕爾，
5 And they said unto him: 'Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways; now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.'
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 But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said: 'Give us a king to judge us.' And Samuel prayed unto 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 unto Samuel: 'Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee; for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected Me, that I should not be king 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 the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, in that they have forsaken Me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee.
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 hearken unto their voice; howbeit thou shalt earnestly forewarn them, and shalt declare unto them the manner of the king that 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 told all the words of the LORD unto the people that 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 will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: he will take your sons, and appoint them unto him, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and they shall run 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 he will appoint them unto him for captains of thousands, and captains of fifties; and to plow his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and the instruments 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 to be cooks, and to be 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 oliveyards, even the best of them, 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 tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, 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 men-servants, and your maid-servants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work.
使用你們的僕婢和你們最好的牛驢，替他作工；
17 He will take the tenth of your flocks; and ye 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 ye shall cry out in that day because of your king whom ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not answer you in that day.'
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 refused to hearken unto the voice of Samuel; and they said: '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 that we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and 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 he 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: 'Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king.' And Samuel said unto the men of Israel: 'Go ye every man unto 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。」
