1 Samuel 8

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

When Samuel was old, 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.

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

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

His sons did not walk in his ways, but chased after dishonest gain. They took bribes and perverted justice.

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

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

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.

They said to him, “Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations.”

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.

But it displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” So Samuel prayed to Yahweh.

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.

Yahweh said to Samuel, “Obey the voice of the people in everything they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king 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.

They are acting now the same as they did since the day I brought them out of Egypt, forsaking me, and serving other gods, and so they are also doing to you.

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.

Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know the way the king will rule over them.”

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

So Samuel told all the words of Yahweh to the people who were asking for 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,

He said, “This will be the practice of the king who will reign over you. He will take your sons and appoint them to his chariots and to be his horsemen, and to run 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.

He will appoint for himself captains of thousands and captains of fifties. He will make some plow his ground, some reap his harvest, and some make his weapons of war and the equipment for his chariots.

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

He will also take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks, and bakers.

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

He will take the very best of your fields, your vineyards, and your olive orchards, 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.

He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vineyards and give to his officers and 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.

He will take your male servants and your female servants and the best of your young men and your donkeys; he will put them all to work for him.

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

He will take the tenth of your flocks, and you will be his slaves.

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.

Then on that day you will cry out because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves; but Yahweh will not answer you on that day.”

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 refused to listen to Samuel; they said, “No! There must 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.

so that we might be like all the other nations, and so that our king may judge us and 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.

When Samuel heard all the words of the people he repeated them in the ears of Yahweh.

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.

Yahweh said to Samuel, “Obey their voice and cause someone to be king for them.” So Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Every man must go to his own city.”