1 Samuel 8

1 When Samuel was old, he made his sons judges over Israel.

When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as judges over Israel.

2 Now the name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah. They were judges in Beersheba.

The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second was Abijah. They were judges in Beersheba.

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

But his sons did not walk in his ways; they turned aside toward dishonest gain, accepting bribes and perverting justice.

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

So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah.

5 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.”

“Look,” they said, “you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint a king to judge us like all the other nations.”

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

But when they said, “Give us a king to judge us,” their demand was displeasing in the sight of Samuel; so he prayed to the LORD.

7 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.

And the LORD said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you. For it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected Me as their king.

8 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.

Just as they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking Me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you.

9 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.”

Now listen to them, but you must solemnly warn them and show them the manner of the king who will reign over them.”

10 Samuel told all the LORD’s words to the people who asked him for a king.

So Samuel spoke all the words of the LORD to the people who were asking him for a king.

11 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.

He said, “This will be the manner of the king who will reign over you: He will take your sons and appoint them to his own chariots and horses, to run in front of his chariots.

12 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.

He will appoint some for himself as commanders of thousands and of fifties, and others to plow his ground, to reap his harvest, to make his weapons of war, and to equip his chariots.

13 He will take your daughters to be perfumers, to be cooks, and to be bakers.

And he will take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks, and bakers.

14 He will take your fields, your vineyards, and your olive groves, even your best, and give them to his servants.

He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his servants.

15 He will take one tenth of your seed and of your vineyards, and give it to his officers and to his servants.

He will take a tenth of your grain and grape harvest and give it to his officials and servants.

16 He will take your male servants, your female servants, your best young men, and your donkeys, and assign them to his own work.

And he will take your menservants and maidservants and your best cattle and donkeys and put them to his own use.

17 He will take one tenth of your flocks; and you will be his servants.

He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves.

18 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.”

When that day comes, you will beg for relief from the king you have chosen, but the LORD will not answer you on that day.”

19 But the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel; and they said, “No, but we will have a king over us,

Nevertheless, the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We must have 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.”

Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to judge us, to go out before us, and to fight our battles.”

21 Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of the LORD.

Samuel listened to all the words of the people and repeated them in the hearing of the LORD.

22 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.”

“Listen to their voice,” the LORD said to Samuel. “Appoint a king for them.” Then Samuel told the men of Israel, “Everyone must go back to his city.”