1 Samuel 8

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

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

2 and the name of his firstborn son was, Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah, —they were 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 Howbeit his sons walked not in his ways, but stooped to extortion, —and took bribes, and perverted judgment.

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

4 So then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, —and came unto Samuel, to Ramah;

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

5 and said unto him—Lo! thou, art old, and, thy sons, walk not in thy ways: Now, appoint for us a king 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 But the thing was displeasing in the eyes of Samuel, when they said, Give unto us a king to judge us. So Samuel prayed unto Yahweh.

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 Yahweh said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people, in all that they shall say unto thee, —for, not thee, have they rejected, but, me, have they rejected, from being king 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 doings which they have done, from the day I brought them up out of Egypt, even until this day, in that they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so, are they doing even unto thee.

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 Now, therefore, hearken to their voice, —save that thou, enter protest, against them, and tell them the manner of the king who will reign 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 So then Samuel spake all the words of Yahweh unto the people, who were asking of him, a king.

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

11 And he said, This, will be the manner of the king who will reign over you, —Your sons, will he take and appoint for himself, as his charioteers and as his horsemen, and they shall 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 and he will appoint for himself, princes of thousands, and princes of fifties, —and to plough his fields, and to reap his harvest, and to make his weapons of war, and the instruments of his chariots;

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, your daughters, will he take, —as perfumers and as cooks, and as bakers;

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

14 And, your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, the best of them, will he take, and give to his servants;

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

15 And, your seed, and your vineyards, will he tithe, and give to his courtiers 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 men-servants, and your maidservants, and your oxen, even the goodliest, and your asses, will he take, —and put them to his work;

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

17 Your flocks, will he tithe, —and, ye yourselves, shall become his servants.

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

18 Then will ye make outcry, in that day, because of your king whom ye have chosen for yourselves, —and Yahweh will 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 But the people refused to hearken unto the voice of Samuel, —and they said—Nay! but, a king, shall be over us:

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

20 so shall, even we, become like all the nations, —and our king shall judge us, and go forth before us, and fight 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 heard all the words of the people, —and spake them in the ears of Yahweh.

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

22 And Yahweh said unto Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel: Go ye, every man to his own 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.”