1 When Samuel was old, he made his sons judges over Israel. 2 Now the name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah. They were judges in Beersheba. 3 His sons didn’t walk in his ways, but turned away after dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice.

4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together and came to Samuel to Ramah. 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." 6 But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, "Give us a king to judge us."

Samuel prayed to Yahweh. 7 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 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 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 Samuel told all Yahweh’s words to the people who asked him for a king. 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. 12 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 He will take your daughters to be perfumers, to be cooks, and to be bakers. 14 He will take your fields, your vineyards, and your olive groves, even your best, and give them to his servants. 15 He will take one tenth of your seed and of your vineyards, and give it to his officers and to his servants. 16 He will take your male servants, your female servants, your best young men, and your donkeys, and assign them to his own work. 17 He will take one tenth of your flocks; and you will be his servants. 18 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 But the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel; and they said, "No, but we will have a king over us, 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."

21 Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of Yahweh. 22 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."

1 撒母耳年老的时候， 立了他的儿子作以色列人的士师。

2 他的长子名叫约珥， 次子名叫亚比亚， 都在别是巴作士师。

3 两个儿子都没有行撒母耳的道路， 反而转去追求不义之财， 收受贿赂， 屈枉正直。

4 于是以色列所有的长老都集合起来， 到拉玛去见撒母耳，

5 对他说： "你老了， 看哪， 你的儿子不行你的道路， 现在求你为我们立一个王治理我们， 好像列国一样。"

6 他们说"求你为我们立一个王治理我们"这件事， 使撒母耳很不高兴， 他就祷告耶和华。

7 耶和华对撒母耳说： "众民对你所说的一切， 你只管听从， 因为他们不是厌弃你， 而是厌弃我， 不要我作他们的王。

8 自从我把他们从埃及领上来的那天起， 直到现在， 他们怎样离开我， 事奉别的神， 他们对我所行的一切， 也照样对你行。

9 现在你只管听从他们的话， 但必须郑重警告他们， 告诉他们那要统治他们的王要怎样治理他们。"

10 于是， 撒母耳把耶和华所讲的一切话都告诉那些向他要求一个王的民众，

11 说： "那要统治你们的王将这样治理你们： 他必征用你们的儿子， 派他们作他的战车兵、骑兵、在车前奔走的前锋，

12 又派他们作千夫长、五十夫长， 替他耕田、收他的庄稼、替他制造作战的武器和战车上的装备。

13 他必征用你们的女儿作配香膏的、烧饭的和烤饼的。

14 他必夺去你们最好的田地、葡萄园和橄榄园， 赐给自己的臣仆。

15 你们撒种所得的和葡萄园所出的， 他都征收十分之一， 赐给他的太监和臣仆。

16 他又必征收你们的仆婢、最精壮的青年和驴， 替他工作。

17 你们的羊群， 他要征收十分之一； 连你们自己也作他的奴仆。

18 到时， 你们必因你们为自己拣选的王而哀求， 那时耶和华却不应允你们。"

19 众民竟不肯听从撒母耳的话， 说： "不， 我们要一个王治理我们，

20 让我们也像列国一样， 有自己的王治理我们， 帅领我们出征， 为我们作战。"

21 撒母耳听了众民的一切话， 就向耶和华复述。

22 耶和华对撒母耳说： "你只管听从他们的话， 为他们立一个王。"于是撒母耳对以色列人说： "你们各人回自己的城去吧。"