1 Samuel 8
1 When Samuel became old, he appointed his two sons, Joel and Abijah, to lead/rule the people of Israel.
Factum est autem cum senuisset Samuel, posuit filios suos iudices Israel.
2 They judged people’s disputes/cases in Beersheba [town].
Fuitque nomen filii eius primogeniti Ioel: et nomen secundi Abia, iudicum 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.
Et non ambulaverunt filii illius in viis eius: sed declinaverunt post avaritiam, acceperuntque munera, et perverterunt iudicium.
4 Finally, the Israeli leaders met at Ramah [town to discuss the matter] with Samuel.
Congregati ergo universi maiores natu Israel, venerunt ad Samuelem in 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!”
Dixeruntque ei: Ecce tu senuisti, et filii tui non ambulant in viis tuis: constitue nobis regem, ut iudicet nos, sicut et universae habent nationes.
6 Samuel was very unhappy with them for requesting that, so he prayed to Yahweh about it.
Displicuit sermo in oculis Samuelis, eo quod dixissent: Da nobis regem, ut iudicet nos. Et oravit Samuel ad Dominum.
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.
Dixit autem Dominus ad Samuelem: Audi vocem populi in omnibus quae loquuntur tibi. non enim te abiecerunt, sed me, ne regnem super eos.
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.
Iuxta omnia opera sua, quae fecerunt a die qua eduxi eos de Aegypto usque ad diem hanc: sicut dereliquerunt me, et servierunt diis alienis, sic faciunt etiam tibi.
9 Do what they are asking you to do. But warn/tell them about how their kings will act toward them!”
Nunc ergo vocem eorum audi: verumtamen contestare eos, et praedic eis ius regis, qui regnaturus est super eos.
10 So Samuel told those people what Yahweh had said.
Dixit itaque Samuel omnia verba Domini ad populum, qui petierat a se regem,
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].
et ait: Hoc erit ius regis, qui imperaturus est vobis: filios vestros tollet, et ponet in curribus suis, facietque sibi equites et praecursores quadrigarum suarum,
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.
et constituet sibi tribunos, et centuriones, et aratores agrorum suorum, et messores segetum, et fabros armorum et curruum suorum.
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].
Filias quoque vestras faciet sibi unguentarias, et focarias, et panificas.
14 He will take your best fields and vineyards and olive tree groves/orchards, and give them to his own officials.
Agros quoque vestros, et vineas, et oliveta optima tollet, et dabit servis suis.
15 He will take a tenth of your harvests and distribute it among the officers and servants [who work in] his [palace].
Sed et segetes vestras, et vinearum reditus addecimabit, ut det eunuchis et famulis suis.
16 He will take from you your male and female servants, your best cattle and donkeys, and force them to work for him.
Servos etiam vestros, et ancillas, et iuvenes optimos, et asinos, auferet, et ponet in opere suo.
17 He will take one tenth of your sheep and goats. And you will become his slaves!
Greges quoque vestros addecimabit, vosque eritis ei servi.
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.”
Et clamabitis in die illa a facie regis vestri, quem elegistis vobis: et non exaudiet vos Dominus in die illa, quia petistis vobis regem.
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!
Noluit autem populus audire vocem Samuelis, sed dixerunt: Nequaquam: rex enim erit super nos,
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.”
et erimus nos quoque sicut omnes gentes: et iudicabit nos rex noster, et egredietur ante nos, et pugnabit bella nostra pro nobis.
21 When Samuel told Yahweh what the people had said,
Et audivit Samuel omnia verba populi, et locutus est ea in auribus Domini.
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.
Dixit autem Dominus ad Samuelem: Audi vocem eorum, et constitue super eos regem. Et ait Samuel ad viros Israel: Vadat unusquisque in civitatem suam.
