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:

Now the name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second, 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 didn’t walk in his ways, but turned away after dishonest gain, 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 themselves together and came to Samuel to 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, “Behold, you are old, and your sons don’t walk in your ways. Now make 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 displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” 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, “Listen to the voice of the people in all that they tell you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me as the 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.

According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, in that they have forsaken me and served other gods, so they also do 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 therefore, listen to their voice. However, you shall protest solemnly to them, and shall show them the way 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,

Samuel told all Yahweh’s words to the people who asked 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 way of the king who shall reign over you: he will take your sons and appoint them as his servants, for his chariots and to be his horsemen; and they will 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 them to him for captains of thousands and captains of fifties; and he will assign some to plow 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;

He will take your daughters to be perfumers, to be cooks, and to be 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 your fields, your vineyards, and your olive groves, even your best, 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 one tenth of your seed and of your vineyards, and give it 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;

He will take your male servants, your female servants, your best young men, and your donkeys, and assign them to his own work.

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

He will take one tenth of your flocks; and you will be 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.”

You will cry out in that day because of your king whom you will have chosen for yourselves; and Yahweh will not answer you in 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 the voice of Samuel; and they said, “No, but we will 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.”

that we also may 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;

Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed 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, “Listen to their voice, and make them a king.” Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Everyone go to your own city.”