1 Samuel 8
1 When Samuel became old, he appointed his two sons, Joel and Abijah, to lead/rule the people of Israel.
撒母耳年紀老邁，就立他兒子作以色列的士師。
2 They judged people’s disputes/cases in Beersheba [town].
長子名叫約珥，次子名叫亞比亞；他們在別是巴作士師。
3 But they were not like their father. They wanted only to get a lot of money. They accepted bribes, and they did not make honest decisions about people’s disputes/cases.
他兒子不行他的道，貪圖財利，收受賄賂，屈枉正直。
4 Finally, the Israeli leaders met at Ramah [town to discuss the matter] with Samuel.
以色列的長老都聚集，來到拉瑪見撒母耳，
5 They said to him, “Listen! You are now old, and your sons are not like you. Appoint a king to rule over us, like the kings that other countries have!”
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 Samuel was very unhappy with them for requesting that, so he prayed to Yahweh about it.
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 Yahweh replied, “Do what they have requested you to do. But ([do not think/the truth is not]) that you are the one whom they are really rejecting. I have been their king, and I am the one they are really rejecting.
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 Ever since I brought them out of Egypt, they have rejected me, and they have worshiped other gods. And now they are also rejecting you in the same way.
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 Do what they are asking you to do. But warn/tell them about how their kings will act toward 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 So Samuel told those people what Yahweh had said.
撒母耳將耶和華的話都傳給求他立王的百姓，說：
11 He said, “If a king rules over you, this is what he will do to you: He will force many of your sons to join the army. He will make [some of] them run in front of his chariots [to clear people out of his way].
「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 [Some of] them will be commanders of his soldiers, but others will work for him like slaves. He will force some of them to plow his fields and [then later] harvest his crops. He will force others to make his weapons and equipment for 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 The king will take [some of] your daughters [from you and force them] to make perfumes for him and cook food for him and bake [bread for him].
必取你們的女兒為他製造香膏，做飯烤餅；
14 He will take your best fields and vineyards and olive tree groves/orchards, and give them to his own officials.
也必取你們最好的田地、葡萄園、橄欖園賜給他的臣僕。
15 He will take a tenth of your harvests and distribute it among the officers and servants [who work in] his [palace].
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 He will take from you your male and female servants, your best cattle and donkeys, and force them to work for him.
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 one tenth of your sheep and goats. And you will become his slaves!
你們的羊群他必取十分之一，你們也必作他的僕人。
18 When that time comes, you will complain loudly to the king, the king that you yourselves have chosen, but Yahweh will not (pay attention to/help) you.”
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 But the people refused to pay attention to what Samuel said. They said, “We do not [care what you say]! We want a king!
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 We want to be like the other nations. We want a king to rule us and to lead our soldiers when they go to fight.”
使我們像列國一樣，有王治理我們，統領我們，為我們爭戰。」
21 When Samuel told Yahweh what the people had said,
撒母耳聽見百姓這一切話，就將這話陳明在耶和華面前。
22 Yahweh replied, “Do what they are telling you to do. Give them a king!” [So Samuel agreed], and then he sent the people home.
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！」
