1 Samuel 8

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

And it comes to pass, when Samuel [is] aged, that he makes his sons judges over Israel.

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

And the name of his firstborn son is Joel, and the name of his second Abiah, judges in Beer-Sheba:

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

and his sons have not walked in his ways, and turn aside after the dishonest gain, and take a bribe, and turn aside judgment.

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

And all [the] elderly of Israel gather themselves together, and come to Samuel at Ramath,

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.

and say to him, “Behold, you have become aged, and your sons have not walked in your ways; now, appoint a king to us, to judge us, like all the nations.”

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

And the thing is evil in the eyes of Samuel when they have said, “Give a king to us, to judge us”; and Samuel prays to YHWH.

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 YHWH says to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people, to all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from reigning over them.

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.

According to all the works that they have done from the day of My bringing them up out of Egypt, even to this day, when they forsake Me, and serve other gods—so they are also 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.

And now, listen to their voice; only, surely you certainly protest to them, and have declared to them the custom of the king who reigns over them.”

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

And Samuel speaks all the words of YHWH to the people who are asking [for] a king from him,

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;

and says, “This is the custom of the king who reigns over you: he takes your sons, and has appointed for himself among his chariots, and among his horsemen, and they have run before 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.

also to appoint for himself heads of thousands, and heads of fifties; also to plow his plowing, and to reap his reaping; and to make instruments of his war, and instruments of his charioteer.

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

And he takes your daughters for perfumers, and for cooks, and for bakers;

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

and your fields, and your vineyards, and your olive-yards—he takes the best, and has given 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.

And he tithes your seed and your vineyards, and has given to his eunuchs, and to his 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 your menservants and your maidservants, and the best of your young men and your donkeys, he takes, and has prepared for his own work;

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

he tithes your flock, and you are for servants to him.

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.

And you have cried out in that day because of the king whom you have chosen for yourselves, and YHWH does not answer you in 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,

And the people refuse to listen to the voice of Samuel, and say, “No, but a king is 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.

and we have been, even we, like all the nations; and our king has judged us, and gone out before us, and fought our battles.”

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

And Samuel hears all the words of the people, and speaks them in the ears of YHWH;

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.

and YHWH says to Samuel, “Listen to their voice, and you have caused a king to reign over them.” And Samuel says to the men of Israel, “Go, each man, to his city.”