1 Samuel 8

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

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

2 And the name of his first-born was Joel; and the name of his second Abiyah: they judged in Beer-sheba'.

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

3 But his sons walked not in his ways, and they inclined after their own advantage, and took bribes, and perverted justice.

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

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

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

5 And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons have not walked in thy ways: now appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations.

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].

6 But the thing was displeasing in the eyes of Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the Lord.

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.

7 And the Lord said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they may say unto thee; for not thee have they rejected, but me have they rejected, that I should not reign over them.

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.

8 In accordance with all the deeds which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even until this day, when they forsook me, and served other gods: so do they also unto thee.

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.

9 And now hearken unto their voice: nevertheless thou must still solemnly forewarn them, and tell them the manner of the king that will reign over them.

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.

10 And Samuel said all the words of the Lord unto the people that had asked of him a king.

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

11 And he said, This will be the manner of the king that will reign over you: Your sons will he take, and appoint them for himself with his chariots, and among his horsemen; and they will have to run before his chariot;

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 amongst his horsemen, and running before his chariots,

12 And to appoint for himself captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and to plough his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and the instruments of his chariots.

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.

13 And your daughters will he take for ointment makers, and for cooks, and for bakers.

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

14 And your fields, and your vineyards, and your olive-yards, yea the best, will he take, and give them to his servants.

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

15 And of your seeds, and of your vineyards will he take the tenth, and give [the same] to his officers, and to his servants.

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

16 And your men-servants, and your maid-servants, and your best young men, and your asses will he take, and employ [them] for his work.

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.

17 Of your flocks will he take the tenth: and ye yourselves will become his servants.

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

18 And ye will cry out on that day because of your king whom ye will have chosen for yourselves, but the Lord will not answer you on that day.

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.

19 Nevertheless the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel; and they said, No; but a king shall be over us;

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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.