1 Samuel 8

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

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

2 Now the name of his firstborn son was Joel: and the name of the second was Abia, judges in Bersabee.

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

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

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

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

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

5 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.

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 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.

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: 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.

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 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.

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 therefore hearken to their voice: but yet testify to them, and foretell them the right of the king, that shall 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 Then Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people that had desired a king of him,

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

11 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,

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 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.

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

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

14 And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your best oliveyards, 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 Moreover he will take the tenth of your corn, and of the revenues of your vineyards, to give his eunuchs 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 Your servants also and handmaids, and your goodliest young men, and your asses he will take away, and put them to his work.

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 Your flocks also he will tithe, and you shall be his servants.

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

18 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.

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 But the people would not hear the voice of Samuel, and they said: Nay: but there shall be 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 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.

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

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

22 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.

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.