1 Samuel 8

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

And it comes to pass, when Samuel [is] aged, that he makes 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 firstborn son is Joel, and the name of his second Abiah, judges in Beer-Sheba:

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

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

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

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

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 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 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 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.

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

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

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 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 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.

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

And he takes your daughters for perfumers, 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—he takes the best, and has given 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 he tithes your seed and your vineyards, and has given to his eunuchs, 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 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 sheepe, and ye shall be his seruants.

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

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 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 But the people would not heare the voyce of Samuel, but did say, Nay, but there shall be a King ouer vs.

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

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

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

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 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.”