1 Samuel 8

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

When Samuel was old, he made 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:

The name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second son 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.

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

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

Then 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.”

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

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.

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 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.

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, 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 warn them solemnly and let them know the way the king will rule over them.”

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

So Samuel told all the words of Yahweh to the people who were asking 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 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 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 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 he takes your daughters for perfumers, 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—he takes the best, and has given 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 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 of your vineyards and give to his officers and 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;

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

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

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

But the people refused to listen to Samuel; they said, “No! There must be 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.”

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

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

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.”

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.”