1 Samuel 8
1 When Samuel was old, 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 The name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second son was Abijah. They were judges in Beersheba.
長子名叫約厄耳，次子名叫阿彼雅，同在貝爾舍巴作民長。
3 His sons did not walk in his ways, but chased after dishonest gain. They 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 together and came to Samuel at Ramah.
以色列眾長老便聯合起來，往辣瑪去見撒慕爾，
5 They said to him, “Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Appoint for 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 it displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” So Samuel prayed to Yahweh.
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 Yahweh said to Samuel, “Obey the voice of the people in everything they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being 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 They are acting now the same as they did since the day I brought them out of Egypt, forsaking me, and serving other gods, and 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 Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know the way the king will rule 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 So Samuel told all the words of Yahweh to the people who were asking for 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 He said, “This will be the practice of the king who will reign over you. He will take your sons and appoint them to his chariots and to be his horsemen, and to 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 He will appoint for himself captains of thousands and captains of fifties. He will make some plow his ground, some reap his harvest, and some make his weapons of war and the equipment for 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 He will also take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks, and bakers.
要徵用你們的女兒為他配製香料，烹調食物；
14 He will take the very best of your fields, your vineyards, and your olive orchards, 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 He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vineyards and give to his officers and 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 He will take your male servants and your female servants and the best of your young men and your donkeys; he will put them all to work for him.
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 you will be his slaves.
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 Then on that day you will cry out because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves; but Yahweh will not answer you on 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 listen to Samuel; they said, “No! There must 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 so that we might be like all the other nations, and so 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 When Samuel heard all the words of the people he repeated them in the ears of Yahweh.
撒慕爾聽見百姓所說的這一切話，就轉告給上主聽。
22 Yahweh said to Samuel, “Obey their voice and cause someone to be king for them.” So Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Every man must go to his own 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。」
