1 Samuel 8

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

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

2 Now the name of his first-born was Joel; and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judges 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 sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted justice.

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

4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah.

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

5 And they said unto him: 'Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways; now make us a king to judge us like all the 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: 'Give us a king to judge us.' And Samuel prayed unto 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 unto Samuel: 'Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee; for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected Me, that I should not be king over them.

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 According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, in that they have forsaken Me, and served other gods, so do they also unto 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 Now therefore hearken unto their voice; howbeit thou shalt earnestly forewarn them, and shalt declare unto them the manner of the king that shall reign over 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 And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that asked of him a king.

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

11 And he said: 'This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: he will take your sons, and appoint them unto him, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and they shall run before his chariots.

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 And he will appoint them unto him for captains of thousands, and captains of fifties; and to plow his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and the instruments of his chariots.

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

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

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

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 seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants.

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-servants, and your maid-servants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work.

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 flocks; and ye shall be his servants.

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

18 And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king whom ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not answer you in 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 refused to hearken unto the voice of Samuel; and they said: 'Nay; but there shall be a king over us;

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

20 that we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.'

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

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

22 And the LORD said to Samuel: 'Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king.' And Samuel said unto the men of Israel: 'Go ye every man unto his city.'

“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.”