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 appointed his sons to be 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.

Now the name of his firstborn son was Joel: and the name of the second was 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 walked not in his ways: but they turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.

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

Then all the ancients of Israel being assembled, came to Samuel to Ramatha.

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 old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: make us a king, to judge us, as all 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 word was displeasing in the eyes of Samuel, that they should say: 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: Hearken to the voice of the people in all that they say to thee. For they have not rejected thee, but me, that I should not reign 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 works, they have done from the day that I brought them out of Egypt until this day: as they have forsaken me, and served strange gods, so do they also unto 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.”

Now therefore hearken to their voice: but yet testify to them, and foretell them the right of the king, that shall reign over them.

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

Then Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people that had desired a king of him,

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 said: This will be the right of the king, that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and put them in his chariots, and will make them his horsemen, and his running footmen to run 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 he will appoint of them to be his tribunes, and centurions, and to plough his fields, and to reap his corn, and to make him arms and chariots.

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

Your daughters also he will take to make him ointments, and to be his 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 best 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.

Moreover he will take the tenth of your corn, and of the revenues of your vineyards, to give his eunuchs and servants.

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

Your servants also and handmaids, and your goodliest young men, and your asses he will take away, and put them to his work.

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

Your flocks also he will tithe, and you 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 you shall cry out in that day from the face of the king, whom you have chosen to yourselves. and the Lord will not hear you in that day, because you desired unto 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 hear the voice of Samuel, and they said: 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.”

And we also will be like all nations: and our king shall judge us, and go out before us, and tight our battles for us.

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 rehearsed 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 make them a king. And Samuel said to the men of Israel: Let every man go to his city.