< Kings I 8 >

1 And it came to pass when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel.
And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons 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 was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: [they were] judges in Beer-sheba.
3 And his sons did not walk in his way; and they turned aside after gain, and took gifts, and perverted judgments.
And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.
4 And the men of Israel gather themselves together, and come to Armathaim to Samuel,
Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto 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 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.
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.
But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto 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.
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.
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.
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.
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 hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.
10 And Samuel spoke every word of the Lord to the people who asked of him a king.
And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that asked of him a king.
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 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.
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 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.
13 And he will take your daughters to be perfumers, and cooks, and bakers.
And he will take your daughters [to be] confectionaries, and [to be] cooks, and [to be] bakers.
14 And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your good olive yards, and give them to his servants.
And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, [even] the best [of them], and 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.
And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his 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.
And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put [them] to his work.
17 And he will tithe your flocks; and you shall be his servants.
He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall 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 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.
19 But the people would not listen to Samuel; and they said to him, Nay, but there shall be a king over us.
Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have 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.
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 spoke them in the ears of the Lord.
And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in 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.
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.

< Kings I 8 >