1 Samuel 8

1 And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel.

And it happened that, when Samuel had become old, he appointed his sons as judges over Israel.

2 Now the name of his first-born was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: [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 And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, 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 Then all the elders of Israel assembled, and came to Samuel to Ramah,

Therefore, all those greater by birth of Israel, having gathered together, went to Samuel at Ramah.

5 And said to him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make 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 displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us: and Samuel prayed to the LORD.

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 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 they have rejected me, that I should not reign 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 works which they have done since the day that I brought them out of Egypt even to this day, by which they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also to 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: yet protest solemnly to them, and show them the manner of the king that 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 And Samuel told all the words of the LORD to the people that asked 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 that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint [them] for himself, for his chariots, and [to be] his horsemen; and [some] will 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 him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and [will set them] to till his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and 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 he will take your daughters [to be] confectioneries, and [to be] cooks, and [to be] bakers.

Likewise, your daughters he will take for himself as makers of ointments, and as cooks and bakers.

14 And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your olive-yards, [even] the best [of them], and give [them] 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 he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, 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 he will take your men-servants, and your maid-servants, and your most choice young men, and your asses, 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 He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye will be his servants.

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

18 And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen for yourselves; and the LORD will not hear 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 Nevertheless, the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, No; but we will have a king 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 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.

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 he rehearsed them in the ears of the LORD.

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

22 And the LORD said to Samuel, Hearken to their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said to the men of Israel, Go ye every man to his 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.”