1 Samuel 8

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

And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he appointed his sons 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.

And the name of his first-born was Joel; and the name of his second Abiyah: they judged in Beer-sheba'.

3 And his sonnes walked not in his wayes, but turned aside after lucre, and tooke rewards, and peruerted the iudgement.

But his sons walked not in his ways, and they inclined after their own advantage, and took bribes, and perverted justice.

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

Then did all the elders of Israel assemble themselves together, and came to Samuel unto 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.

And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons have not walked in thy ways: now appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations.

6 But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Giue vs a King to iudge vs: and Samuel prayed vnto the Lord.

But the thing was displeasing in the eyes of Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto 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 unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they may say unto thee; for not thee have they rejected, but me have they rejected, that I should not reign over them.

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.

In accordance with all the deeds which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even until this day, when they forsook me, and served other gods: so do they also unto thee.

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.

And now hearken unto their voice: nevertheless thou must still solemnly forewarn them, and tell them the manner of the king that will reign over them.

10 So Samuel told all the wordes of the Lord vnto the people that asked a King of him.

And Samuel said all the words of the Lord unto the people that had asked of him 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.

And he said, This will be the manner of the king that will reign over you: Your sons will he take, and appoint them for himself with his chariots, and among his horsemen; and they will have to run before his chariot;

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.

And to appoint for himself captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and to plough his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and the instruments of his chariots.

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

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

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

And your fields, and your vineyards, and your olive-yards, yea the best, will he take, 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.

And of your seeds, and of your vineyards will he take the tenth, and give [the same] to his officers, and to his 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 your men-servants, and your maid-servants, and your best young men, and your asses will he take, and employ [them] for his work.

17 He will take the tenth of your sheepe, and ye shall be his seruants.

Of your flocks will he take the tenth: and ye yourselves will become his servants.

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.

And ye will cry out on that day because of your king whom ye will have chosen for yourselves, 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 the voice of Samuel; and they said, No; but a king shall be 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.

That we also may ourselves be like all the nations: and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.

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

And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he spoke them before the ears 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.

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