1 Samuel 8

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

And it came to pass when Samuel was old, that he appointed his sons to be 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 Abia, judges in Bersabee.

3 Howbeit his sons walked not in his ways, but stooped to extortion, —and took bribes, and perverted judgment.

And his sons walked not in his ways: but they turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.

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

Then all the ancients of Israel being assembled, came to Samuel to Ramatha.

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 thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: make us a king, to judge us, as all 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, that they should say: 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.

And the Lord said to Samuel: Hearken to the voice of the people in all that they say to thee. For they have not rejected thee, but me, that I should not 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.

According to all their works, they have done from the day that I brought them out of Egypt until this day: as they have forsaken me, and served strange gods, so do they also unto thee.

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 hearken to their voice: but yet testify to them, and foretell them the right of the king, that shall reign over them.

10 So then Samuel spake all the words of Yahweh unto the people, who were asking of him, a king.

Then Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people that had desired a king of 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 said: This will be the right of the king, that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and put them in his chariots, and will make them his horsemen, and his running footmen to run before 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;

And he will appoint of them to be his tribunes, and centurions, and to plough his fields, and to reap his corn, and to make him arms and chariots.

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

Your daughters also he will take to make him ointments, and to be his 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;

And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your best oliveyards, 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;

Moreover he will take the tenth of your corn, and of the revenues of your vineyards, to give 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;

Your servants also and handmaids, and your goodliest young men, and your asses he will take away, and put them to his work.

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

Your flocks also he will tithe, and you shall 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 shall cry out in that day from the face of the king, whom you have chosen to yourselves. and the Lord will not hear you in that day, because you desired unto yourselves a king.

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 would not hear the voice of Samuel, and they said: Nay: but 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 also will be like all nations: and our king shall judge us, and go out before us, and tight our battles 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 rehearsed them in 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.

And the Lord said to Samuel: Hearken to their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said to the men of Israel: Let every man go to his city.