1 Samuel 8

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

And it happened that, when Samuel had become 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.

Now the name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of the second was Abijah: judges at 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. Instead, they turned aside, pursuing avarice. And they accepted bribes, and they perverted judgment.

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

Therefore, all those greater by birth of Israel, having gathered together, went 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.

And they said to him: “Behold, you are elderly, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Appoint for us a king, so that he may judge us, just as all the nations have.”

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.

And the word was displeasing in the eyes of Samuel, for they had said, “Give us a king to judge us.” And Samuel 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.

Then the Lord said to Samuel: “Listen to the voice of the people in all that they are saying to you. For they have not rejected you, but me, lest I reign over them.

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.

In accord with all their works, which they have done from the day when I led them away from Egypt, even to this day: just as they have forsaken me, and served foreign gods, so now they also do 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 therefore, hear their voice. Yet truly, testify to them and foretell to them the rights 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.

And so, Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people, who had petitioned a king from him.

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;

And he said: “This will be the right of the king who will have authority over you: He will take your sons, and place them in his chariots. And he will make them his horsemen and his runners before his four-horse 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;

And he will appoint them to be his tribunes and centurions, and the plowmen of his fields, and the harvesters of the grain, and the makers of his weapons and chariots.

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

Likewise, your daughters he will take for himself as makers of ointments, and as 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;

Also, he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your best olive groves, and he will give them to his servants.

15 And, your seed, and your vineyards, will he tithe, and give to his courtiers and to his servants;

Moreover, he will take one tenth of your grain and of the results of your vineyards, so that he may give these to his eunuchs 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;

Then, too, he will take your servants, and handmaids, and your best young men, and your donkeys, and he will set them to his work.

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

Also, he will take a tenth of your flocks. And you will be his servants.

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.

And you will cry out, in that day, from the face of the king, whom you have chosen for yourselves. And the Lord will not heed you, in that day. For you requested a king for yourselves.”

19 But the people refused to hearken unto the voice of Samuel, —and they said—Nay! but, a king, shall be over us:

But the people were not willing to listen to the voice of Samuel. Instead, they said: “By no means! For there shall be 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.

and we shall be just like all the Gentiles. And our king will judge us, and he will go out before us, and he will fight our wars for us.”

21 And Samuel heard all the words of the people, —and spake them in the ears of Yahweh.

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

Then the Lord said to Samuel, “Listen to their voice, and appoint a king over them.” And Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Let each one go to his own city.”