1 Samuel 8

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

And it comes to pass, when Samuel [is] aged, that he makes his sons judges over Israel.

2 Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: [they were] judges 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 sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.

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

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

5 And 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.

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, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto 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 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 reign over them.

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 According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto 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 Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over 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 And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that asked of him a king.

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

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] for himself, for his chariots, and [to be] his horsemen; and [some] shall run before his chariots.

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 And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and [will set them] to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots.

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 And he will take your daughters [to be] confectionaries, and [to be] cooks, and [to be] bakers.

And he takes your daughters for perfumers, and for cooks, and for 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.

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

And he tithes your seed and your vineyards, and has given to his eunuchs, and to his servants.

16 And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put [them] to his work.

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 sheep: and ye shall be his servants.

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

18 And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not hear you in 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 Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us;

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

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

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

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.

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.”