< 1 Samuel 8 >

1 When Samuel was old, he made his sons judges over Israel.
撒母耳年纪老迈,就立他儿子作以色列的士师。
2 Now the name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah. They were judges in Beersheba.
长子名叫约珥,次子名叫亚比亚;他们在别是巴作士师。
3 His sons didn’t walk in his ways, but turned away after dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice.
他儿子不行他的道,贪图财利,收受贿赂,屈枉正直。
4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together and came to Samuel to Ramah.
以色列的长老都聚集,来到拉玛见撒母耳,
5 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.”
对他说:“你年纪老迈了,你儿子不行你的道。现在求你为我们立一个王治理我们,像列国一样。”
6 But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” Samuel prayed to the LORD.
撒母耳不喜悦他们说“立一个王治理我们”,他就祷告耶和华。
7 The LORD 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.
耶和华对撒母耳说:“百姓向你说的一切话,你只管依从;因为他们不是厌弃你,乃是厌弃我,不要我作他们的王。
8 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.
自从我领他们出埃及到如今,他们常常离弃我,事奉别神。现在他们向你所行的,是照他们素来所行的。
9 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.”
故此你要依从他们的话,只是当警戒他们,告诉他们将来那王怎样管辖他们。”
10 Samuel told all the LORD’s words to the people who asked him for a king.
撒母耳将耶和华的话都传给求他立王的百姓,说:
11 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.
“管辖你们的王必这样行:他必派你们的儿子为他赶车、跟马,奔走在车前;
12 He will appoint them to him for captains of thousands and captains of fifties; and he will assign some to plough his ground and to reap his harvest; and to make his instruments of war and the instruments of his chariots.
又派他们作千夫长、五十夫长,为他耕种田地,收割庄稼,打造军器和车上的器械;
13 He will take your daughters to be perfumers, to be cooks, and to be bakers.
必取你们的女儿为他制造香膏,做饭烤饼;
14 He will take your fields, your vineyards, and your olive groves, even your best, and give them to his servants.
也必取你们最好的田地、葡萄园、橄榄园赐给他的臣仆。
15 He will take one tenth of your seed and of your vineyards, and give it to his officers and to his servants.
你们的粮食和葡萄园所出的,他必取十分之一给他的太监和臣仆;
16 He will take your male servants, your female servants, your best young men, and your donkeys, and assign them to his own work.
又必取你们的仆人婢女,健壮的少年人和你们的驴,供他的差役。
17 He will take one tenth of your flocks; and you will be his servants.
你们的羊群他必取十分之一,你们也必作他的仆人。
18 You will cry out in that day because of your king whom you will have chosen for yourselves; and the LORD will not answer you in that day.”
那时你们必因所选的王哀求耶和华,耶和华却不应允你们。”
19 But the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel; and they said, “No, but we will have a king over us,
百姓竟不肯听撒母耳的话,说:“不然!我们定要一个王治理我们,
20 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.”
使我们像列国一样,有王治理我们,统领我们,为我们争战。”
21 Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of the LORD.
撒母耳听见百姓这一切话,就将这话陈明在耶和华面前。
22 The LORD 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.”
耶和华对撒母耳说:“你只管依从他们的话,为他们立王。”撒母耳对以色列人说:“你们各归各城去吧!”

< 1 Samuel 8 >