1 Samuel 8

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

When Samuel was old, he made his sons 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.

Now the name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second, 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.

His sons didn’t walk in his ways, but turned away after dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice.

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

Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together and came to Samuel to 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.'

They said to him, “Behold, you are old, and your sons don’t walk in your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.”

6 But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said: 'Give us a king to judge us.' And Samuel prayed unto the LORD.

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

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.

Yahweh said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in all that they tell you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me as the king over them.

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.

According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, in that they have forsaken me and served other gods, so they also do 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 therefore, listen to their voice. However, you shall protest solemnly to them, and shall show them the way 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.

Samuel told all Yahweh’s words to the people who asked 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 way of the king who shall reign over you: he will take your sons and appoint them as his servants, for his chariots and to be his horsemen; and they will run before 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 them to him for captains of thousands and captains of fifties; and he will assign some to plow his ground and to reap his harvest; and to make his instruments of war and the instruments of his chariots.

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

He will take your daughters to be perfumers, to be cooks, and to be 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 your fields, your vineyards, and your olive groves, even your best, 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 one tenth of your seed and of your vineyards, and give it to his officers and to his 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.

He will take your male servants, your female servants, your best young men, and your donkeys, and assign them to his own work.

17 He will take the tenth of your flocks; and ye shall be his servants.

He will take one tenth of your flocks; and you will be his servants.

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.'

You will cry out in that day because of your king whom you will have chosen for yourselves; and Yahweh will not answer you in 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;

But the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel; and they said, “No, but we will 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.'

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.”

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

Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of Yahweh.

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.'

Yahweh said to Samuel, “Listen to their voice, and make them a king.” Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Everyone go to your own city.”