1 Samuel 8

1 Da Samuel var blevet gammel, satte han sine Sønner til Dommere over Israel;

When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as judges over Israel.

2 hans førstefødte Søn hed Joel og hans anden Søn Abija; de dømte i Be'ersjeba.

The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second was Abijah. They were judges in Beersheba.

3 Men hans Sønner vandrede ikke i hans Spor; de lod sig lede af egen Fordel, tog imod Bestikkelse og bøjede Retten.

But his sons did not walk in his ways; they turned aside toward dishonest gain, accepting bribes and perverting justice.

4 Da kom alle Israels Ældste sammen og begav sig til Samuel i Rama

So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah.

5 og sagde til ham: "Se, du er blevet gammel, og dine Sønner vandrer ikke i dit Spor. Sæt derfor en Konge over os til at dømme os, ligesom alle de andre Folk har det!"

“Look,” they said, “you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint a king to judge us like all the other nations.”

6 Men det vakte Samuels Mishag, at de sagde: "Giv os en Konge, som kan dømme os!" Og Samuel bad til HERREN.

But when they said, “Give us a king to judge us,” their demand was displeasing in the sight of Samuel; so he prayed to the LORD.

7 Da sagde HERREN til Samuel: "Ret dig i et og alt efter, hvad Folket siger, thi det er ikke dig, de vrager, men det er mig, de vrager som deres Konge.

And the LORD said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you. For it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected Me as their king.

8 Ganske som de har handlet imod mig, lige siden jeg førte dem ud af Ægypten og indtil denne Dag, idet de forlod mig og dyrkede andre Guder, således handler de også imod dig.

Just as they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking Me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you.

9 Men ret dig nu efter dem; dog skal du indtrængende advare dem og lade dem vide, hvad Ret den Konge skal have, som skal herske over dem!"

Now listen to them, but you must solemnly warn them and show them the manner of the king who will reign over them.”

10 Så forebragte Samuel Folket, som krævede en Konge af ham, alle HERRENs Ord

So Samuel spoke all the words of the LORD to the people who were asking him for a king.

11 og sagde: "Denne Ret skal den Konge have, som skal herske over eder: Eders Sønner skal han tage og sætte ved sin Vogn og sine Heste, så de må løbe foran hans Vogn,

He said, “This will be the manner of the king who will reign over you: He will take your sons and appoint them to his own chariots and horses, to run in front of his chariots.

12 og sætte dem til Tusindførere og Halvhundredførere og til at pløje og høste for ham og lave hans Krigsredskaber og Vogntøj.

He will appoint some for himself as commanders of thousands and of fifties, and others to plow his ground, to reap his harvest, to make his weapons of war, and to equip his chariots.

13 Eders Døtre skal han tage til at blande Salver, koge og bage.

And he will take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks, and bakers.

14 De bedste af eders Marker, Vingårde og Oliventræer skal han tage og give sine Folk.

He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his servants.

15 Af eders Sæd og Vinhøst skal han tage Tiende og give sine Hofmænd og Tjenere.

He will take a tenth of your grain and grape harvest and give it to his officials and servants.

16 De bedste af eders Trælle og Trælkvinder, det bedste af eders Hornkvæg og Æsler skal han tage og bruge til sit eget Arbejde.

And he will take your menservants and maidservants and your best cattle and donkeys and put them to his own use.

17 Af eders Småkvæg skal han tage Tiende; og I selv skal blive hans Trælle.

He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves.

18 Og når l da til den Tid klager over eders Konge, som I har valgt eder, så vil HERREN ikke bønhøre eder!"

When that day comes, you will beg for relief from the king you have chosen, but the LORD will not answer you on that day.”

19 Folket vilde dog ikke rette sig efter Samuel, men sagde: "Nej, en Konge vil vi have over os,

Nevertheless, the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We must have a king over us.

20 vi vil have det som alle de andre Folk; vor Konge skal dømme os og drage ud i Spidsen for os og føre vore Krige!"

Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to judge us, to go out before us, and to fight our battles.”

21 Da Samuel havde hørt alle Folkets Ord. forebragte han HERREN dem;

Samuel listened to all the words of the people and repeated them in the hearing of the LORD.

22 og HERREN sagde til Samuel: "Ret dig efter dem og sæt en Konge over dem!" Da sagde Samuel til Israels Mænd: "Gå hjem, hver til sin By!"

“Listen to their voice,” the LORD said to Samuel. “Appoint a king for them.” Then Samuel told the men of Israel, “Everyone must go back to his city.”