撒母耳記上 8
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Traditional)
以色列人要求立王
8 撒母耳在年老的時候立了他的兒子做以色列人的士師。 2 他的長子是約珥，次子是亞比亞，他們在別示巴做士師。 3 然而，他們沒有效法自己的父親，而是愛慕不義之財，貪贓枉法。
4 於是，以色列的長老一起到拉瑪去見撒母耳， 5 說：「你年紀大了，你的兒子不效法你。現在求你為我們立一個王治理我們，像其他國家一樣。」 6 撒母耳聽到他們要求立一個王治理他們，心中不悅，就向耶和華禱告。 7 耶和華對撒母耳說：「你照他們所說的去做吧，因為他們不是拒絕你，而是拒絕我做他們的王。 8 自從我把他們從埃及領出來以後，他們就常常背棄我，去供奉其他神明。現在，他們也這樣對待你。 9 你就照他們所求的去做吧！但你要警告他們，讓他們知道將來王會怎樣管轄他們。」
10 撒母耳就把耶和華的話轉告給那些請求他立王的民眾，說： 11 「將來管轄你們的王會徵用你們的兒子做他的戰車兵、騎兵，要他們跑在他的戰車前面。 12 他會派一些人做千夫長、五十夫長，一些人為他耕種田地、收割莊稼，一些人製造兵器和戰車的裝備。 13 他會把你們的女兒帶走，要她們給他造香膏、煮飯和烤餅。 14 他會奪去你們最好的田地、葡萄園和橄欖園，送給他的臣僕。 15 他會從你們的糧食和葡萄園的出產中收取十分之一，送給他的官員和臣僕。 16 他會徵用你們的僕婢及最好的牛[a]和驢來為他效勞。 17 他會拿去你們羊群的十分之一，並讓你們做他的奴僕。 18 將來你們會因所選之王的壓迫而呼求耶和華，耶和華卻不會垂聽你們。」
19 民眾卻不肯聽從撒母耳的話。他們說：「不，我們想要一個王治理我們， 20 這樣我們就會像其他國家一樣，有王來統治我們，率領我們，為我們作戰。」 21 撒母耳把這些人的話一五一十地告訴了耶和華。 22 耶和華對撒母耳說：「照他們說的去為他們立一個王吧。」於是，撒母耳對以色列人說：「你們各人回自己的城去吧。」
Footnotes
- 8·16 「牛」有古卷作「青年」。
1 Samuel 8
Living Bible
8 In his old age, Samuel retired and appointed his sons as judges in his place. 2 Joel and Abijah, his oldest sons, held court in Beersheba; 3 but they were not like their father, for they were greedy for money. They accepted bribes and were very corrupt in the administration of justice. 4 Finally the leaders of Israel met in Ramah to discuss the matter with Samuel. 5 They told him that since his retirement things hadn’t been the same, for his sons were not good men.
“Give us a king like all the other nations have,” they pleaded. 6 Samuel was terribly upset and went to the Lord for advice.
7 “Do as they say,” the Lord replied, “for I am the one they are rejecting, not you—they don’t want me to be their king any longer. 8 Ever since I brought them from Egypt they have continually forsaken me and followed other gods. And now they are giving you the same treatment. 9 Do as they ask, but warn them about what it will be like to have a king!”
10 So Samuel told the people what the Lord had said:
11 “If you insist on having a king, he will conscript your sons and make them run before his chariots; 12 some will be made to lead his troops into battle, while others will be slave laborers; they will be forced to plow in the royal fields and harvest his crops without pay, and make his weapons and chariot equipment. 13 He will take your daughters from you and force them to cook and bake and make perfumes for him. 14 He will take away the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his friends. 15 He will take a tenth of your harvest and distribute it to his favorites. 16 He will demand your slaves and the finest of your youth and will use your animals for his personal gain. 17 He will demand a tenth of your flocks, and you shall be his slaves. 18 You will shed bitter tears because of this king you are demanding, but the Lord will not help you.”
19 But the people refused to listen to Samuel’s warning.
“Even so, we still want a king,” they said, 20 “for we want to be like the nations around us. He will govern us and lead us to battle.”
21 So Samuel told the Lord what the people had said, 22 and the Lord replied again, “Then do as they say and give them a king.”
So Samuel agreed and sent the men home again.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.