1 Samuel 8

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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 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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.”

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.

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

And Samuel said all the words of the Lord unto the people that had asked of him 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;

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;

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.

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.

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

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

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

And your fields, and your vineyards, and your olive-yards, yea the best, will he take, 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.

And of your seeds, and of your vineyards will he take the tenth, and give [the same] to his officers, and to his 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 your men-servants, and your maid-servants, and your best young men, and your asses will he take, and employ [them] for his work.

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

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

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.”

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.

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 the voice of Samuel; and they said, No; but a king shall be 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.”

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.

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

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

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.