1 Samuel 8

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

When Samuel was old, he made his sons 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 was Joel, and the name of his second, 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.

His sons didn’t walk in his ways, but turned away after dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice.

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

Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together and came to Samuel to 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.

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 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 the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” 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.

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

Samuel told all the LORD’s words to the people who asked 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 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 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 them to him for captains of thousands and captains of fifties; and he will assign some to plough his ground and to reap his harvest; and to make his instruments of war and the instruments of his chariots.

13 And, your daughters, will he take, —as perfumers and as cooks, and as 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 oliveyards, the best of them, will he take, and give 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, your seed, and your vineyards, will he tithe, and give to his courtiers 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 men-servants, and your maidservants, and your oxen, even the goodliest, and your asses, will he take, —and put them to his 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 Your flocks, will he tithe, —and, ye yourselves, shall become his servants.

He will take one 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.

You will cry out in that day because of your king whom you will have chosen for yourselves; and the LORD will not answer you in 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:

But the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel; and they said, “No, but we will 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.

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

Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he 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.

The LORD 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.”