Kings I 8

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

And it happened that, when Samuel had become old, he appointed his sons as judges over Israel.

2 And these [are] the names of his sons; Joel the firstborn, and the name of the second Abia, judges in Bersabee.

Now the name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of the second was Abijah: judges at Beersheba.

3 And his sons did not walk in his way; and they turned aside after gain, and took gifts, and perverted judgments.

But his sons did not walk in his ways. Instead, they turned aside, pursuing avarice. And they accepted bribes, and they perverted judgment.

4 And the men of Israel gather themselves together, and come to Armathaim to Samuel,

Therefore, all those greater by birth of Israel, having gathered together, went to Samuel at Ramah.

5 and they said to him, Behold, you are grown old, and your sons walk not in your way; and now set over us a king to judge us, as also the other nations [have].

And they said to him: “Behold, you are elderly, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Appoint for us a king, so that he may judge us, just as all the nations have.”

6 And the thing [was] evil in the eyes of Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us: and Samuel prayed to the Lord.

And the word was displeasing in the eyes of Samuel, for they had said, “Give us a king to judge us.” And Samuel prayed to the Lord.

7 And the Lord said to Samuel, Hear the voice of the people, in whatever they shall say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from reigning over them.

Then the Lord said to Samuel: “Listen to the voice of the people in all that they are saying to you. For they have not rejected you, but me, lest I reign over them.

8 According to all their doings which they have done to me, from the day that I brought them out of Egypt until this day, even [as] they have deserted me, and served other gods, so they do also to you.

In accord with all their works, which they have done from the day when I led them away from Egypt, even to this day: just as they have forsaken me, and served foreign gods, so now they also do to you.

9 And now listen to their voice; only you shall solemnly testify to them, and you shall describe to them the manner of the king who shall reign over them.

Now therefore, hear their voice. Yet truly, testify to them and foretell to them the rights of the king who will reign over them.”

10 And Samuel spoke every word of the Lord to the people who asked of him a king.

And so, Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people, who had petitioned a king from him.

11 And he said, This shall be the manner of the king that shall rule over you: he shall take your sons, and put them in his chariots, and among his horsemen, and running before his chariots,

And he said: “This will be the right of the king who will have authority over you: He will take your sons, and place them in his chariots. And he will make them his horsemen and his runners before his four-horse chariots.

12 and [his manner shall be] to make them to himself captains of hundreds and captains of thousands; and to reap his harvest, and gather his vintage, and prepare his instruments of war, and the implements of his chariots.

And he will appoint them to be his tribunes and centurions, and the plowmen of his fields, and the harvesters of the grain, and the makers of his weapons and chariots.

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

Likewise, your daughters he will take for himself as makers of ointments, and as cooks and bakers.

14 And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your good olive yards, and give them to his servants.

Also, he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your best olive groves, and he will give them to his servants.

15 And he will take the tithe of your seeds and your vineyards, and give [it] to his eunuchs, and to his servants.

Moreover, he will take one tenth of your grain and of the results of your vineyards, so that he may give these to his eunuchs and servants.

16 And he will take your servants, and your handmaids, and your good herds and your asses, and will take the tenth of them for his works.

Then, too, he will take your servants, and handmaids, and your best young men, and your donkeys, and he will set them to his work.

17 And he will tithe your flocks; and you shall be his servants.

Also, he will take a tenth of your flocks. And you will be his servants.

18 And you shall cry out in that day because of your king whom you have chosen to yourselves, and the Lord shall not hear you in those days, because you have chosen to yourselves a king.

And you will cry out, in that day, from the face of the king, whom you have chosen for yourselves. And the Lord will not heed you, in that day. For you requested a king for yourselves.”

19 But the people would not listen to Samuel; and they said to him, Nay, but there shall be a king over us.

But the people were not willing to listen to the voice of Samuel. Instead, they said: “By no means! For there shall be a king over us,

20 An we also will be like all the nations; and our king shall judge us, and shall go out before us, and fight our battles.

and we shall be just like all the Gentiles. And our king will judge us, and he will go out before us, and he will fight our wars for us.”

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

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

22 And the Lord said to Samuel, Listen to their voice, and appoint them a king. And Samuel said to the men of Israel, Let each man depart to his city.

Then the Lord said to Samuel, “Listen to their voice, and appoint a king over them.” And Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Let each one go to his own city.”