1 Samuel 8

1 When Samuel was old, he made his sons judges over Israel.

And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he appointed 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.

And the name of his first-born was Joel; and the name of his second Abiyah: they judged in Beer-sheba'.

3 His sons did not walk in his ways, but turned away after dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice.

But his sons walked not in his ways, and they inclined after their own advantage, and took bribes, and perverted justice.

4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together and came to Samuel to Ramah.

Then did all the elders of Israel assemble themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah,

5 They said to him, “Behold, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.”

And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons have not walked in thy ways: now appoint for 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 the LORD.

But the thing was displeasing in the eyes of Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the Lord.

7 The LORD 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.

And the Lord said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they may say unto thee; for not thee have they rejected, but me have they rejected, that I should not reign 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.

In accordance with all the deeds which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even until this day, when they forsook me, and served other gods: so do they also unto thee.

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.”

And now hearken unto their voice: nevertheless thou must still solemnly forewarn them, and tell them the manner of the king that will reign over them.

10 Samuel told all the LORD’s words to the people who asked him for a king.

And Samuel said all the words of the Lord unto the people that had asked of him 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.

And he said, This will be the manner of the king that will reign over you: Your sons will he take, and appoint them for himself with his chariots, and among his horsemen; and they will have to run before his chariot;

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.

And to appoint for himself captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and to plough 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.

And your daughters will he take for ointment makers, and for cooks, and for bakers.

14 He will take your fields, your vineyards, and your olive groves, even your best, and give them to his servants.

And your fields, and your vineyards, and your olive-yards, yea the best, will he take, 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.

And of your seeds, and of your vineyards will he take the tenth, and give [the same] 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.

And your men-servants, and your maid-servants, and your best young men, and your asses will he take, and employ [them] for his work.

17 He will take one tenth of your flocks; and you will be his servants.

Of your flocks will he take the tenth: and ye yourselves will become his servants.

18 You will cry out in that day because of your king whom you will have chosen for yourselves; and the LORD will not answer you in that day.”

And ye will cry out on that day because of your king whom ye will have chosen for yourselves, but the Lord will not answer you on 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,

Nevertheless the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel; and they said, No; but a king shall be 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.”

That we also may ourselves 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 the LORD.

And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he spoke them before the ears of the Lord.

22 The LORD 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.”

And the Lord said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and appoint them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye every man unto his city.