1 Samuel 8

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

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

2 And the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abijah; they judged in Beer-sheba.

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

3 And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted justice.

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

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

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

5 and said to him, Behold, thou art become old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now appoint us a king to judge us, like all the nations.

“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 And the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed to Jehovah.

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 And Jehovah said to 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.

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 According to all the deeds that they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, in that they have forsaken me and served other gods, so do they also unto thee.

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 And now hearken unto their voice; only, testify solemnly unto them, and declare unto them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.

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

10 And Samuel spoke all the words of Jehovah to the people that asked of him a king.

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

11 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, on his chariot and among his horsemen, and they shall run before his chariots;

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 and [he will take them] that he may appoint for himself captains over thousands, and captains over fifties, and that they may plough his ground, and reap his harvest, and make his instruments of war and instruments of his chariots.

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

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

14 And your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, the best, will he take and give to his servants.

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

15 And he will take the tenth of your seed and of your vineyards, and give to his chamberlains and to his servants.

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

16 And he will take your bondmen, and your bondwomen, and your comeliest young men, and your asses, and use them for his work.

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

17 He will take the tenth of your sheep. And ye shall be his servants.

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

18 And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king whom ye have chosen; and Jehovah will not answer you in that day.

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 And the people refused to hearken to the voice of Samuel; and they said, No, but there shall be a king over us,

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

20 that we also may be like all the nations; and our king shall judge us, and go out before us, and conduct our wars.

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 And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he repeated them in the ears of Jehovah.

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

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

“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.”