撒母耳記上 8
1 撒母耳年紀老邁，就立他兒子作以色列的士師。
When Samuel was old, he made his sons judges over Israel.
2 長子名叫約珥，次子名叫亞比亞；他們在別是巴作士師。
Now the name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah. They were judges in Beersheba.
3 他兒子不行他的道，貪圖財利，收受賄賂，屈枉正直。
His sons didn’t walk in his ways, but turned away after dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice.
4 以色列的長老都聚集，來到拉瑪見撒母耳，
Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together and came to Samuel to Ramah.
5 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。」
They said to him, “Behold, you are old, and your sons don’t walk in your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.”
6 撒母耳不喜悅他們說「立一個王治理我們」，他就禱告耶和華。
But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” Samuel prayed to Yahweh.
7 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。
Yahweh said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in all that they tell you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me as the king over them.
8 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。
According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, in that they have forsaken me and served other gods, so they also do to you.
9 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。」
Now therefore, listen to their voice. However, you shall protest solemnly to them, and shall show them the way of the king who will reign over them.”
10 撒母耳將耶和華的話都傳給求他立王的百姓，說：
Samuel told all Yahweh’s words to the people who asked him for a king.
11 「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；
He said, “This will be the way of the king who shall reign over you: he will take your sons and appoint them as his servants, for his chariots and to be his horsemen; and they will run before his chariots.
12 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；
He will appoint them to him for captains of thousands and captains of fifties; and he will assign some to plow his ground and to reap his harvest; and to make his instruments of war and the instruments of his chariots.
13 必取你們的女兒為他製造香膏，做飯烤餅；
He will take your daughters to be perfumers, to be cooks, and to be bakers.
14 也必取你們最好的田地、葡萄園、橄欖園賜給他的臣僕。
He will take your fields, your vineyards, and your olive groves, even your best, and give them to his servants.
15 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；
He will take one tenth of your seed and of your vineyards, and give it to his officers and to his servants.
16 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。
He will take your male servants, your female servants, your best young men, and your donkeys, and assign them to his own work.
17 你們的羊群他必取十分之一，你們也必作他的僕人。
He will take one tenth of your flocks; and you will be his servants.
18 那時你們必因所選的王哀求耶和華，耶和華卻不應允你們。」
You will cry out in that day because of your king whom you will have chosen for yourselves; and Yahweh will not answer you in that day.”
19 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，
But the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel; and they said, “No, but we will have a king over us,
20 使我們像列國一樣，有王治理我們，統領我們，為我們爭戰。」
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.”
21 撒母耳聽見百姓這一切話，就將這話陳明在耶和華面前。
Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of Yahweh.
22 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！」
Yahweh said to Samuel, “Listen to their voice, and make them a king.” Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Everyone go to your own city.”
