1 Samuel 8
1 When Samuel became old, he appointed his two sons, Joel and Abijah, to lead/rule the people of Israel.
Forsothe it was don, whanne Samuel hadde wexide eld, he settide hise sones iugis on Israel.
2 They judged people’s disputes/cases in Beersheba [town].
And the name of his firste gendrid sone was Johel, and the name of the secounde was Abia, iugis in Bersabee.
3 But they were not like their father. They wanted only to get a lot of money. They accepted bribes, and they did not make honest decisions about people’s disputes/cases.
And hise sones yeden not in `the weies of hym, but thei bowiden after aueryce, and thei token yiftis, and peruertiden doom.
4 Finally, the Israeli leaders met at Ramah [town to discuss the matter] with Samuel.
Therfor alle the grettere men in birthe of Israel weren gaderid, and camen to Samuel in to Ramatha.
5 They said to him, “Listen! You are now old, and your sons are not like you. Appoint a king to rule over us, like the kings that other countries have!”
And thei seiden to hym, Lo! thou hast wexid eld, and thi sones goen not in thi weies; ordeyne thou a kyng to vs, `that he deme vs, as also alle naciouns han.
6 Samuel was very unhappy with them for requesting that, so he prayed to Yahweh about it.
And the word displeside in the iyen of Samuel, for thei hadden seid, Yyue thou to vs a kyng, that he deme vs. And Samuel preiede to the Lord.
7 Yahweh replied, “Do what they have requested you to do. But ([do not think/the truth is not]) that you are the one whom they are really rejecting. I have been their king, and I am the one they are really rejecting.
Forsothe the Lord seide to Samuel, Here thou the vois of the puple in alle thingis whiche thei speken to thee; for thei han not caste awey thee, but me, that Y regne not on hem.
8 Ever since I brought them out of Egypt, they have rejected me, and they have worshiped other gods. And now they are also rejecting you in the same way.
Bi alle her werkis whiche thei diden, fro the day in whiche Y ledde hem out of Egipt `til to this dai, as thei forsoken me, and seruyden alien goddis, so thei doon also to thee.
9 Do what they are asking you to do. But warn/tell them about how their kings will act toward them!”
Now therfor here thou her vois; netheles witnesse thou to hem; biforseie thou to hem the riyt of the kyng, that schal regne on hem.
10 So Samuel told those people what Yahweh had said.
Therfor Samuel seide alle the wordis of the Lord to the puple, that hadde axid of him a king; and he seide,
11 He said, “If a king rules over you, this is what he will do to you: He will force many of your sons to join the army. He will make [some of] them run in front of his chariots [to clear people out of his way].
This schal be the `riyt of the kyng, that schal comaunde to you; he schal take youre sones, and schal sette in hise charis;
12 [Some of] them will be commanders of his soldiers, but others will work for him like slaves. He will force some of them to plow his fields and [then later] harvest his crops. He will force others to make his weapons and equipment for his chariots.
and he schal make hem `to hym silf rideris, and biforegoeris of hise cartis; and he schal ordeyne to hym tribunes, `that is, souereyns of a thousynd, and centuriouns, `that is, souereyns of an hundrid, and eereris of hise feeldis, and reperis of cornes, and smythis of hise armeris, and charis.
13 The king will take [some of] your daughters [from you and force them] to make perfumes for him and cook food for him and bake [bread for him].
Also he schal make youre douytris makeris of `oynementis to hym silf, and fueris, and bakeris.
14 He will take your best fields and vineyards and olive tree groves/orchards, and give them to his own officials.
And he schal take youre feeldis and vyneris and the beste places of olyues, and schal yyue to hise seruauntis.
15 He will take a tenth of your harvests and distribute it among the officers and servants [who work in] his [palace].
But also he schal take the tenthe part of youre cornes, and rentis of vyneris, that he yyue to his chaumberleyns and seruauntis.
16 He will take from you your male and female servants, your best cattle and donkeys, and force them to work for him.
Sotheli he schal take awey youre seruauntis and handmaydes, and beste yong men, and assis, and schal sette in his werk.
17 He will take one tenth of your sheep and goats. And you will become his slaves!
Also he schal take the tenthe part of youre flockis, and ye schulen be `seruauntis to hym.
18 When that time comes, you will complain loudly to the king, the king that you yourselves have chosen, but Yahweh will not (pay attention to/help) you.”
And ye schulen crye in that dai fro the face of youre kyng, whom ye han chose to you; and the Lord schal not here you in that dai; for ye axiden a kyng to you.
19 But the people refused to pay attention to what Samuel said. They said, “We do not [care what you say]! We want a king!
Sotheli the puple nolde here the vois of Samuel, but thei seiden, Nay for a kyng schal be on vs;
20 We want to be like the other nations. We want a king to rule us and to lead our soldiers when they go to fight.”
and we also schulen be as alle folkis, and oure kyng schal deme vs, and he schal go out bifor vs, and he schal fiyte oure batel for vs.
21 When Samuel told Yahweh what the people had said,
And Samuel herde alle the wordis of the puple, and `spak tho in the eeris of the Lord.
22 Yahweh replied, “Do what they are telling you to do. Give them a king!” [So Samuel agreed], and then he sent the people home.
Forsothe the Lord seide to Samuel, Here thou `the vois of hem, and ordeyne thou a kyng on hem. And Samuel seide to the men of Israel, Ech man go in to his citee.
