1 Samuel 8
1 And it comes to pass, when Samuel [is] aged, that he makes 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 the name of his firstborn son is Joel, and the name of his second Abiah, 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 have not walked in his ways, and turn aside after the dishonest gain, and take a bribe, and turn aside 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 And all [the] elderly of Israel gather themselves together, and come to Samuel at Ramath,
以色列眾長老便聯合起來，往辣瑪去見撒慕爾，
5 and say to him, “Behold, you have become aged, and your sons have not walked in your ways; now, appoint a king to us, 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 And the thing is evil in the eyes of Samuel when they have said, “Give a king to us, to judge us”; and Samuel prays to YHWH.
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 YHWH says to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people, to all that they 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 the works that they have done from the day of My bringing them up out of Egypt, even to this day, when they forsake Me, and serve other gods—so they are also doing 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, surely you certainly protest to them, and have declared to them the custom of the king who reigns 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 speaks all the words of YHWH to the people who are asking [for] 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 says, “This is the custom of the king who reigns over you: he takes your sons, and has appointed for himself among his chariots, and among his horsemen, and they have 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 also to appoint for himself heads of thousands, and heads of fifties; also to plow his plowing, and to reap his reaping; and to make instruments of his war, and instruments of his charioteer.
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 takes your daughters for perfumers, and for cooks, and for bakers;
要徵用你們的女兒為他配製香料，烹調食物；
14 and your fields, and your vineyards, and your olive-yards—he takes the best, and has given 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 tithes your seed and your vineyards, and has given 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 your menservants and your maidservants, and the best of your young men and your donkeys, he takes, and has prepared for his own work;
使用你們的僕婢和你們最好的牛驢，替他作工；
17 he tithes your flock, and you are for servants to him.
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 have cried out in that day because of the king whom you have chosen for yourselves, and YHWH does 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 And the people refuse to listen to the voice of Samuel, and say, “No, but a king is 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 have been, even we, like all the nations; and our king has judged us, and gone out before us, and fought 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 hears all the words of the people, and speaks them in the ears of YHWH;
撒慕爾聽見百姓所說的這一切話，就轉告給上主聽。
22 and YHWH says to Samuel, “Listen to their voice, and you have caused a king to reign over them.” And Samuel says to the men of Israel, “Go, each man, 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。」
