1 Samuel 8

1 When Samuel was nowe become olde, he made his sonnes Iudges ouer Israel.

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

2 (And the name of his eldest sonne was Ioel, and the name of the second Abiah) euen Iudges 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 sonnes walked not in his wayes, but turned aside after lucre, and tooke rewards, and peruerted the iudgement.

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

4 Wherefore all the Elders of Israel gathered them together, and came to Samuel vnto Ramah,

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

5 And said vnto him, Beholde, thou art olde, and thy sonnes walke not in thy wayes: make vs nowe a King to iudge vs like all 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 But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Giue vs a King to iudge vs: and Samuel prayed vnto the Lord.

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 the Lord said vnto Samuel, Heare the voyce of the people in all that they shall say vnto thee: for they haue not cast thee away, but they haue cast me away, that I should not reigne ouer the.

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 As they haue euer done since I brought them out of Egypt euen vnto this day, (and haue forsaken me, and serued other gods) euen so doe they vnto 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 Nowe therefore hearken vnto their voyce: howbeit yet testifie vnto them, and shewe them the maner of ye King that shall reigne ouer 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 So Samuel told all the wordes of the Lord vnto the people that asked a King of him.

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

11 And he saide, This shall be the maner of the King that shall reigne ouer you: he will take your sonnes, and appoint them to his charets, and to be his horsemen, and some shall runne before his charet.

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 Also he will make them his captaines ouer thousands, and captaines ouer fifties, and to eare his ground, and to reape his haruest, and to make instruments of warre, and the thinges that serue for his charets.

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 He will also take your daughters and make them apoticaries, and cookes, and bakers.

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

14 And he will take your fieldes, and your vineyardes, and your best Oliue trees, and giue them to his seruants.

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 seede, and of your vineyards, and giue it to his Eunuches, and to his seruants.

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 men seruants, and your maide seruants, and the chiefe of your yong men, and your asses, and put them to his worke.

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 sheepe, and ye shall be his seruants.

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

18 And ye shall crie out at that day, because of your King, whom ye haue chosen you, and the Lord will not heare you at 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 But the people would not heare the voyce of Samuel, but did say, Nay, but there shall be a King ouer vs.

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

20 And we also will be like all other nations, and our King shall iudge vs, and goe out before vs, and fight our battels.

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 Therefore when Samuel heard all ye wordes of ye people, he rehearsed the in ye eares of ye Lord.

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

22 And the Lord saide to Samuel, Hearken vnto their voyce, and make them a King. And Samuel said vnto the men of Israel, Goe euery man vnto his citie.

“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.”