1 Samuel 8
1 And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel.
撒母耳年紀老邁，就立他兒子作以色列的士師。
2 Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: [they were] judges in Beer-sheba.
長子名叫約珥，次子名叫亞比亞；他們在別是巴作士師。
3 And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.
他兒子不行他的道，貪圖財利，收受賄賂，屈枉正直。
4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah,
以色列的長老都聚集，來到拉瑪見撒母耳，
5 And 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：「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 the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto 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 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 reign over them.
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 According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee.
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 therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that shall 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 And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that asked of him a king.
撒母耳將耶和華的話都傳給求他立王的百姓，說：
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] for himself, for his chariots, and [to be] his horsemen; and [some] shall run before 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 And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and [will set them] to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of 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] confectionaries, and [to be] cooks, and [to be] bakers.
必取你們的女兒為他製造香膏，做飯烤餅；
14 And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, [even] the best [of them], 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 And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his 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 your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put [them] to his work.
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 the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants.
你們的羊群他必取十分之一，你們也必作他的僕人。
18 And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not hear you in 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 obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will 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 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.
使我們像列國一樣，有王治理我們，統領我們，為我們爭戰。」
21 And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears 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 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.
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！」
