1 Samuel 8

1 And it comes to pass, when Samuel [is] aged, that he makes his sons judges over Israel.

When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as judges over Israel.

2 And the name of his firstborn son is Joel, and the name of his second Abiah, judges in Beer-Sheba:

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

3 and his sons have not walked in his ways, and turn aside after the dishonest gain, and take a bribe, and turn aside judgment.

But his sons did not walk in his ways; they turned aside toward dishonest gain, accepting bribes and perverting justice.

4 And all [the] elderly of Israel gather themselves together, and come to Samuel at Ramath,

So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah.

5 and say to him, “Behold, you have become aged, and your sons have not walked in your ways; now, appoint a king to us, to judge us, like all the nations.”

“Look,” they said, “you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint a king to judge us like all the other nations.”

6 And the thing is evil in the eyes of Samuel when they have said, “Give a king to us, to judge us”; and Samuel prays to YHWH.

But when they said, “Give us a king to judge us,” their demand was displeasing in the sight of Samuel; so he prayed to the LORD.

7 And YHWH says to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people, to all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from reigning over them.

And the LORD said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you. For it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected Me as their king.

8 According to all the works that they have done from the day of My bringing them up out of Egypt, even to this day, when they forsake Me, and serve other gods—so they are also doing to you.

Just as they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking Me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you.

9 And now, listen to their voice; only, surely you certainly protest to them, and have declared to them the custom of the king who reigns over them.”

Now listen to them, but you must solemnly warn them and show them the manner of the king who will reign over them.”

10 And Samuel speaks all the words of YHWH to the people who are asking [for] a king from him,

So Samuel spoke all the words of the LORD to the people who were asking him for a king.

11 and says, “This is the custom of the king who reigns over you: he takes your sons, and has appointed for himself among his chariots, and among his horsemen, and they have run before his chariots;

He said, “This will be the manner of the king who will reign over you: He will take your sons and appoint them to his own chariots and horses, to run in front of his chariots.

12 also to appoint for himself heads of thousands, and heads of fifties; also to plow his plowing, and to reap his reaping; and to make instruments of his war, and instruments of his charioteer.

He will appoint some for himself as commanders of thousands and of fifties, and others to plow his ground, to reap his harvest, to make his weapons of war, and to equip his chariots.

13 And he takes your daughters for perfumers, and for cooks, and for bakers;

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

14 and your fields, and your vineyards, and your olive-yards—he takes the best, and has given to his servants.

He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his servants.

15 And he tithes your seed and your vineyards, and has given to his eunuchs, and to his servants.

He will take a tenth of your grain and grape harvest and give it to his officials and servants.

16 And your menservants and your maidservants, and the best of your young men and your donkeys, he takes, and has prepared for his own work;

And he will take your menservants and maidservants and your best cattle and donkeys and put them to his own use.

17 he tithes your flock, and you are for servants to him.

He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves.

18 And you have cried out in that day because of the king whom you have chosen for yourselves, and YHWH does not answer you in that day.”

When that day comes, you will beg for relief from the king you have chosen, but the LORD will not answer you on that day.”

19 And the people refuse to listen to the voice of Samuel, and say, “No, but a king is over us,

Nevertheless, the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We must have a king over us.

20 and we have been, even we, like all the nations; and our king has judged us, and gone out before us, and fought our battles.”

Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to judge us, to go out before us, and to fight our battles.”

21 And Samuel hears all the words of the people, and speaks them in the ears of YHWH;

Samuel listened to all the words of the people and repeated them in the hearing of the LORD.

22 and YHWH says to Samuel, “Listen to their voice, and you have caused a king to reign over them.” And Samuel says to the men of Israel, “Go, each man, to his city.”

“Listen to their voice,” the LORD said to Samuel. “Appoint a king for them.” Then Samuel told the men of Israel, “Everyone must go back to his city.”