1 Samuel 8

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

And it came to pass when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel.

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

And these [are] the names of his sons; Joel the first-born, and the name of the second Abia, judges in Bersabee.

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

And his sons did not walk in his way; and they turned aside after gain, and took gifts, and perverted judgments.

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

And the men of Israel gather themselves together, and come to Armathaim to Samuel,

5 “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.”

and they said to him, Behold, thou art grown old, and thy sons walk not in thy way; and now set over us a king to judge us, as also the other nations [have].

6 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.

And the thing [was] evil in the eyes of Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us: and Samuel prayed to the Lord.

7 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.

And the Lord said to Samuel, Hear the voice of the people, in whatever they shall say to thee; for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me from reigning over them.

8 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.

According to all their doings which they have done to me, from the day that I brought them out of Egypt until this day, even [as] they have deserted me, and served other gods, so they do also to thee.

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

And now hearken to their voice; only thou shalt solemnly testify to them, and thou shalt describe to them the manner of the king who shall reign over them.

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

And Samuel spoke every word of the Lord to the people who asked of him a king.

11 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.

And he said, This shall be the manner of the king that shall rule over you: he shall take your sons, and put them in his chariots, and among his horsemen, and running before his chariots,

12 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.

and [his manner shall be] to make them to himself captains of hundreds and captains of thousands; and to reap his harvest, and gather his vintage, and prepare his instruments of war, and the implements of his chariots.

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

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

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

And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your good oliveyards, and give them to his servants.

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

And he will take the tithe of your seeds and your vineyards, and give [it] to his eunuchs, and to his servants.

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

And he will take your servants, and your handmaids, and your good herds and your asses, and will take the tenth of them for his works.

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

And he will tithe your flocks; and ye shall be his servants.

18 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.”

And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king whom ye have chosen to yourselves, and the Lord shall not hear you in those days, because ye have chosen to yourselves a king.

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

But the people would not hearken to Samuel; and they said to him, Nay, but there shall be a king over us.

20 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.”

An we also will be like all the nations; and our king shall judge us, and shall go out before us, and fight our battles.

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

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

22 “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.”

And the Lord said to Samuel, Hearken to their voice, and appoint them a king. And Samuel said to the men of Israel, Let each man depart to his city.