1Samuel
Chapter8
11InhisoldageSamuelappointedhissonsjudgesoverIsrael.
撒慕尔年老的时候，立了他的两个儿子作以色列的民长。
2Hisfirst-bornwasnamedJoel,hissecondson,Abijah;theyjudgedatBeer-sheba.
长子名叫约厄耳，次子名叫阿彼雅，同在贝尔舍巴作民长。
3Hissonsdidnotfollowhisexamplebutsoughtillicitgainandacceptedbribes,pervertingjustice.
但是他这两个儿子不走他所走的路，却贪图厚利，接受贿赂，歪曲正理。
4ThereforealltheeldersofIsraelcameinabodytoSamuelatRamah
以色列众长老便联合起来，往辣玛去见撒慕尔，
5andsaidtohim,＂Nowthatyouareold,andyoursonsdonotfollowyourexample,appointakingoverus,asothernationshave,tojudgeus.＂
对他说：＂看，你已经老了，你的儿子们不走你所走的路。如今请你给我们立一位君王治理我们，如同各国一样。＂
6Samuelwasdispleasedwhentheyaskedforakingtojudgethem.HeprayedtotheLORD,however,
撒慕尔听到他们要求说：＂请给我们立一位君王治理我们，＂大为不悦，便去祈求上主。
7whosaidinanswer:＂Grantthepeople'severyrequest.Itisnotyoutheyreject,theyarerejectingmeastheirking.
上主对撒慕尔说：＂凡民众向你所说的话，你都要听从，因为他们不是拋弃你，而是拋弃我作他们的君王。
8AstheyhavetreatedmeconstantlyfromthedayIbroughtthemupfromEgypttothisday,desertingmeandworshipingstrangegods,sodotheytreatyoutoo.
自从我领他们出离埃及直到今日，凡他们做的，无非是拋弃我而事奉别的神；他们现在也这样来对待你。
9Nowgranttheirrequest;butatthesametime,warnthemsolemnlyandinformthemoftherightsofthekingwhowillrulethem.＂
好罢！你就听从他们的要求，但必须清楚警告他们，要他们明了那统治他们的君王所享有的权利。＂
10SamueldeliveredthemessageoftheLORDinfulltothosewhowereaskinghimforaking.
撒慕尔把上主的一切话，转告给那向他要求君王的人民，
11Hetoldthem:＂Therightsofthekingwhowillruleyouwillbeasfollows:Hewilltakeyoursonsandassignthemtohischariotsandhorses,andtheywillrunbeforehischariot.
说：＂那要统治你们的君王所享有的权利是：他要征用你们的儿子，去充当车夫马夫，在他的车前奔走：
12Hewillalsoappointfromamongthemhiscommandersofgroupsofathousandandofahundredsoldiers.Hewillsetthemtodohisplowingandhisharvesting,andtomakehisimplementsofwarandtheequipmentofhischariots.
委派他们做千夫长、百夫长、五十夫长；令他们耕种他的田地，收割他的庄稼，替他制造作战的武器和战车的用具；
13Hewilluseyourdaughtersasointment-makers,ascooks,andasbakers.
要征用你们的女儿为他配制香料，烹调食物；
14Hewilltakethebestofyourfields,vineyards,andolivegroves,andgivethemtohisofficials.
要拿你们最好的庄田、葡萄园和橄榄林，赐给他的臣仆；
15Hewilltitheyourcropsandyourvineyards,andgivetherevenuetohiseunuchsandhisslaves.
征收你们庄田和葡萄园出产的十分之一，赐给他的宦官和臣仆；
16Hewilltakeyourmaleandfemaleservants,aswellasyourbestoxenandyourasses,andusethemtodohiswork.
使用你们的仆婢和你们最好的牛驴，替他作工；
17Hewilltitheyourflocksandyouyourselveswillbecomehisslaves.
征收你们的羊群十分之一；至于你们自己，还应作他的奴隶。
18Whenthistakesplace,youwillcomplainagainstthekingwhomyouhavechosen,butonthatdaytheLORDwillnotansweryou.＂
到那一天，你们必要因你们所选的君王发出哀号；但那一天，上主也不理你们了。＂
19Thepeople,however,refusedtolistentoSamuel'swarningandsaid,＂Notso!Theremustbeakingoverus.
但是，人民不愿听从撒慕尔的话却对他说：＂不！我们非要一位君王管理我们不可。
20Wetoomustbelikeothernations,withakingtoruleusandtoleadusinwarfareandfightourbattles.＂
我们也要像一般异民一样，有我们的君王来治理我们，率领我们出征作战。＂
21WhenSamuelhadlistenedtoallthepeoplehadtosay,herepeatedittotheLORD,
撒慕尔听见百姓所说的这一切话，就转告给上主听。
22whothensaidtohim,＂Granttheirrequestandappointakingtorulethem.＂SamuelthereuponsaidtothemenofIsrael,＂Eachofyougotohisowncity.＂
上主对撒慕尔说：＂你听从他们的话，给他们一位君王罢！＂撒慕尔就吩咐以色列人说：＂你们各自暂回本城去。＂
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Footnotes(注解)
1[1]Fromthischapteron,theFirstBookofSamuelgivesustwoandsometimesthreeviewpointsonmostoftheeventswithwhichitisconcerned,suchastheappointmentofSaulasking,thereasonsforhisdownfall,hisrelationshipwithDavid,eventhecircumstancesofSaul'sdeath(1Sam31;2Sam1).ThechoiceofSaulaskingisseen,in1Sam8,followedby1Sam10:17-27and1Sam12asmotivatedbythepeople'sdefectionfromtheproperserviceofGod;thislatereditorialapproachincorporatesnotonlynarrativeswithwhichitisconsistent,butalsoearlytraditions(1Sam9:1-10,16and1Sam11)whichportraytheeventsandtheirmotivationquitedifferently.