以色列人要求立王
撒母耳年纪老迈，就立他的儿子作以色列的士师。
And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel.
2他的长子名叫约珥，次子名叫亚比亚；他们在别是巴作士师。Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: they were judges in Beersheba.
3他的儿子不行他的道，贪图财利，收取贿赂，屈枉正直。And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.
4以色列的长老都聚集在拉玛，来到撒母耳那里，Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah,
5对他说：“看哪，你年纪老了，你的儿子又不行你的道。现在请你为我们立一个王治理我们，像列国一样。”And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.
6撒母耳不喜悦他们说“立一个王治理我们”，他就向耶和华祷告。But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD.
7耶和华对撒母耳说：“你只管听从百姓向你说的一切话，因为他们不是厌弃你，而是厌弃我，不要我作他们的王。And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.
8自从我领他们出埃及的日子到如今，他们离弃我，事奉别神；正像他们从前所做的一切事，现在他们也照样向你做了。According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee.
9现在你只管听从他们的话，不过要严厉警告他们，告诉他们将来王会用什么方式管辖他们。”Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.
10撒母耳将耶和华一切的话转告求他立王的百姓。And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that asked of him a king.
11他说：“管辖你们的王必用这样的方式：他必派你们的儿子为他驾车，赶马，在他的战车前奔跑。And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots.
12他要为自己立千夫长、五十夫长；耕种他的田地，收割他的庄稼；打造他的兵器和车上的器械。And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots.
13他必叫你们的女儿为他制造香膏，作厨师与烤饼的，And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers.
14也必取你们最好的田地、葡萄园、橄榄园，赐给他的臣仆。And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants.
15你们的粮食和葡萄园所出产的，他必征收十分之一给他的官员和臣仆，And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants.
16又必叫你们的仆人婢女，健壮的青年和你们的驴为他做工。And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work.
17你们的羊群，他必征收十分之一，你们自己也必作他的仆人。He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants.
18那日，你们必因自己所选的王哀求耶和华，但那日耶和华却不应允你们。”And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not hear you in that day.
19百姓却不肯听撒母耳的话，说：“不！我们一定要一个王治理我们，Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us;
20使我们像列国一样，有王治理我们，率领我们，为我们争战。”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撒母耳听见百姓这一切话，就禀告给耶和华听。And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of the LORD.
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。”撒母耳对以色列人说：“去，你们各归各城吧！”And the LORD said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye every man unto his city.