| 撒慕爾紀上 |
1 Samuel |
| 1撒慕爾年老的時候，立了他的兩個兒子作以色列的民長。 |
1 In his old age Samuel appointed his sons judges over Israel. |
| 2長子名叫約厄耳，次子名叫阿彼雅，同在貝爾舍巴作民長。 |
2His first-born was named Joel, his second son, Abijah; they judged at Beer-sheba. |
| 3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。 |
3His sons did not follow his example but sought illicit gain and accepted bribes, perverting justice. |
| 4以色列眾長老便聯合起來，往辣瑪去見撒慕爾， |
4Therefore all the elders of Israel came in a body to Samuel at Ramah |
| 5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。」 |
5and said to him, "Now that you are old, and your sons do not follow your example, appoint a king over us, as other nations have, to judge us." |
| 6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。 |
6Samuel was displeased when they asked for a king to judge them. He prayed to the LORD, however, |
| 7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。 |
7who said in answer: "Grant the people's every request. It is not you they reject, they are rejecting me as their king. |
| 8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。 |
8As they have treated me constantly from the day I brought them up from Egypt to this day, deserting me and worshiping strange gods, so do they treat you too. |
| 9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。」 |
9Now grant their request; but at the same time, warn them solemnly and inform them of the rights of the king who will rule them." |
| 10撒慕爾把上主的一切話，轉告給那向他要求君王的人民， |
10Samuel delivered the message of the LORD in full to those who were asking him for a king. |
| 11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； |
11He told them: "The rights of the king who will rule you will be as follows: He will take your sons and assign them to his chariots and horses, and they will run before his chariot. |
| 12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； |
12He will also appoint from among them his commanders of groups of a thousand and of a hundred soldiers. He will set them to do his plowing and his harvesting, and to make his implements of war and the equipment of his chariots. |
| 13要徵用你們的女兒為他配製香料，烹調食物； |
13He will use your daughters as ointment-makers, as cooks, and as bakers. |
| 14要拿你們最好的莊田、葡萄園和橄欖林，賜給他的臣僕； |
14He will take the best of your fields, vineyards, and olive groves, and give them to his officials. |
| 15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； |
15He will tithe your crops and your vineyards, and give the revenue to his eunuchs and his slaves. |
| 16使用你們的僕婢和你們最好的牛驢，替他作工； |
16He will take your male and female servants, as well as your best oxen and your asses, and use them to do his work. |
| 17徵收你們的羊群十分之一；至於你們自己，還應作他的奴隸。 |
17He will tithe your flocks and you yourselves will become his slaves. |
| 18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。」 |
18When this takes place, you will complain against the king whom you have chosen, but on that day the LORD will not answer you." |
| 19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。 |
19The people, however, refused to listen to Samuel's warning and said, "Not so! There must be a king over us. |
| 20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。」 |
20We too must be like other nations, with a king to rule us and to lead us in warfare and fight our battles." |
| 21撒慕爾聽見百姓所說的這一切話，就轉告給上主聽。 |
21When Samuel had listened to all the people had to say, he repeated it to the LORD, |
| 22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。」 |
22who then said to him, "Grant their request and appoint a king to rule them." Samuel thereupon said to the men of Israel, "Each of you go to his own city." |
