1 Samuel 8

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 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 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 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 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.

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 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.

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 hearken unto their voice: nevertheless thou must still solemnly forewarn them, and tell them the manner of the king that will 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 said all the words of the Lord unto the people that had 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 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 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 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 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 your daughters will he take for ointment makers, and for cooks, and for bakers.

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

Also, he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your best olive groves, and he will 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.

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

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

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

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 he spoke them before 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, Hearken unto their voice, and appoint them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye every man unto 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.”