1 Samuel 8
1 And it comes to pass, when Samuel [is] aged, that he makes 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 And the name of his firstborn son is Joel, and the name of his second Abiah, judges in Beer-Sheba:
長子名叫約珥，次子名叫亞比亞；他們在別是巴作士師。
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.
他兒子不行他的道，貪圖財利，收受賄賂，屈枉正直。
4 And all [the] elderly of Israel gather themselves together, and come to Samuel at Ramath,
以色列的長老都聚集，來到拉瑪見撒母耳，
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：「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 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 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.
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 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 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.”
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 speaks all the words of YHWH to the people who are asking [for] a king from him,
撒母耳將耶和華的話都傳給求他立王的百姓，說：
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;
「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 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.
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 takes your daughters for perfumers, and for cooks, and for bakers;
必取你們的女兒為他製造香膏，做飯烤餅；
14 and your fields, and your vineyards, and your olive-yards—he takes the best, and has given 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 tithes your seed and your vineyards, and has given to his eunuchs, 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 your menservants and your maidservants, and the best of your young men and your donkeys, he takes, and has prepared for his own 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 tithes your flock, and you are for servants to him.
你們的羊群他必取十分之一，你們也必作他的僕人。
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.”
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 And the people refuse to listen to the voice of Samuel, and say, “No, but a king is 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 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.”
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 hears all the words of the people, and speaks them in the ears of YHWH;
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 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.”
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！」
