1 Samuel 8

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

When Samuel was old, 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'.

The name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second son was Abijah. They were judges in Beersheba.

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

His sons did not walk in his ways, but chased after dishonest gain. They took bribes and perverted justice.

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

Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came 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.

They said to him, “Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Appoint for us a king to judge us like all the 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.

But it displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” So Samuel prayed to Yahweh.

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.

Yahweh said to Samuel, “Obey the voice of the people in everything they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king 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.

They are acting now the same as they did since the day I brought them out of Egypt, forsaking me, and serving other gods, and so they are also doing 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 listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know the way the king will rule over them.”

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

So Samuel told all the words of Yahweh to the people who were asking for 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;

He said, “This will be the practice of the king who will reign over you. He will take your sons and appoint them to his chariots and to be his horsemen, and to run 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.

He will appoint for himself captains of thousands and captains of fifties. He will make some plow his ground, some reap his harvest, and some make his weapons of war and the equipment for his chariots.

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

He will also take your daughters to be perfumers, 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 the very best of your fields, your vineyards, and your olive orchards, 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.

He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vineyards and give to his officers and 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.

He will take your male servants and your female servants and the best of your young men and your donkeys; he will put them all to work for him.

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

He will take the tenth of your flocks, and you 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.

Then on that day you will cry out because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves; but Yahweh will not answer you on that day.”

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 Samuel; they said, “No! There must 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.

so that we might be like all the other nations, and so 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 he spoke them before the ears of the Lord.

When Samuel heard all the words of the people he repeated them in the ears of Yahweh.

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.

Yahweh said to Samuel, “Obey their voice and cause someone to be king for them.” So Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Every man must go to his own city.”