1 Samuel 8
1 And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he appointed his sons judges over Israel.
When Samuel grew old, he made his sons leaders over Israel.
2 And the name of his first-born was Joel; and the name of his second Abiyah: they judged in Beer-sheba'.
His first son was named Joel, and his second son was named Abijah. They were rulers in Beersheba.
3 But his sons walked not in his ways, and they inclined after their own advantage, and took bribes, and perverted justice.
However, his sons did not follow his ways. They were corrupt, making money by accepting bribes and perverting justice.
4 Then did all the elders of Israel assemble themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah,
So the elders of Israel all joined together and came to meet 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.
“Look here,” they told him, “you are old, and your sons do not follow your ways. Choose a king to rule over us like all the other nations.”
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.
Samuel thought this was a bad idea when they said, “Give us a king to rule over us,” so he prayed to the Lord about it.
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.
“Do what the people tell you,” the Lord said to Samuel, “because it's not you they're rejecting, but me as their king.
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.
They're doing just as they have always done since I led them out of Egypt right up to now. They have abandoned me and worshiped other gods, and they're doing just the same 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.
So do what they want, but give them a solemn warning—explain to them what a king will do when he rules over them.”
10 And Samuel said all the words of the Lord unto the people that had asked of him a king.
Samuel repeated all that the Lord had said to the people asking him to give them 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;
“This is what a king will do when he rules over you,” he told them. “He will take your sons and make them serve as charioteers and horsemen, and to run as a guard in front of his chariot.
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.
Some of them he will make commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and some will have to plow his fields and reap his harvest. Some will be assigned to making weapons of war and chariot equipment.
13 And your daughters will he take for ointment makers, and for cooks, and for bakers.
He will take your daughters and have them work as perfume-makers, 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.
He will take your best fields, vineyards, and olive groves and give them to his officials.
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.
He will take a tenth of your grain harvest and the produce of your vineyards and allocate it to his chief officers and officials.
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.
He will take your male servants and your female servants, and your best young men and your donkeys, and make them work for him.
17 Of your flocks will he take the tenth: and ye yourselves will become his servants.
He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will be his slaves.
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.
On that day you will plead to be rescued from the king you have chosen, but the Lord won't answer you then.”
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 refused to listen to what Samuel said. “No!” they insisted. “We want our own king!
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.
That way we can be like all the other nations. Our king will rule us, and will lead us when we go out to fight our battles.”
21 And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he spoke them before the ears of the Lord.
Samuel listened to everything the people said and repeated it to 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.
The Lord told Samuel, “Do what they say and give them a king.” Then Samuel told the Israelites, “Go back to your homes.”
