1 Samuel 8

1 And it cometh to pass, when Samuel [is] aged, that he maketh his sons judges over Israel.

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

2 And the name of his first-born son is Joel, and the name of his second Abiah, judges in Beer-Sheba:

Now the name of his first-born was Joel; and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judges in Beer-sheba.

3 and his sons have not walked in his ways, and turn aside after the dishonest gain, and take a bribe, and turn aside judgment.

And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted justice.

4 And all the elders of Israel gather themselves together, and come in unto Samuel to Ramath,

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

5 and say unto him, 'Lo, thou hast become aged, and thy sons have not walked in thy ways; now, appoint to us a king, to judge us, like all the nations.'

And they said unto 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.'

6 And the thing is evil in the eyes of Samuel, when they have said, 'Give to us a king to judge us;' and Samuel prayeth unto Jehovah.

But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said: 'Give us a king to judge us.' And Samuel prayed unto the LORD.

7 And Jehovah saith unto Samuel, 'Hearken to the voice of the people, to all that they say unto thee, for thee they have not rejected, but Me they have rejected, from reigning over them.

And the LORD said unto Samuel: 'Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee; for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected Me, that I should not be king over them.

8 According to all the works that they have done from the day of My bringing them up out of Egypt, even unto this day, when they forsake Me, and serve other gods — so they are doing also to thee.

According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, in that they have forsaken Me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee.

9 And now, hearken to their voice; only, surely thou dost certainly protest to them, and hast declared to them the custom of the king who doth reign over them.'

Now therefore hearken unto their voice; howbeit thou shalt earnestly forewarn them, and shalt declare unto them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.'

10 And Samuel speaketh all the words of Jehovah unto the people who are asking from him a king,

And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that asked of him a king.

11 and saith, 'This is the custom of the king who doth reign over you: Your sons he doth take, and hath appointed for himself among his chariots, and among his horsemen, and they have run before his chariots;

And he said: 'This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: he will take your sons, and appoint them unto him, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and they shall run before his chariots.

12 also to appoint for himself heads of thousands, and heads of fifties; also to plow his plowing, and to reap his reaping; and to make instruments of his war, and instruments of his charioteer.

And he will appoint them unto him for captains of thousands, and captains of fifties; and to plow his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and the instruments of his chariots.

13 'And your daughters he doth take for perfumers, and for cooks, and for bakers;

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

14 and your fields, and your vineyards, and your olive-yards — the best — he doth take, and hath given to his servants.

And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants.

15 And your seed and your vineyards he doth tithe, and hath given to his eunuchs, and to his servants.

And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants.

16 And your men-servants, and your maid-servants, and your young men — the best, and your asses, he doth take, and hath prepared for his own work;

And he will take your men-servants, and your maid-servants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work.

17 your flock he doth tithe, and ye are to him for servants.

He will take the tenth of your flocks; and ye shall be his servants.

18 And ye have cried out in that day because of the king whom ye have chosen for yourselves, and Jehovah doth not answer you in that day.'

And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king whom ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not answer you in that day.'

19 And the people refuse to hearken to the voice of Samuel, and say, 'Nay, but a king is over us,

But the people refused to hearken unto the voice of Samuel; and they said: 'Nay; but there shall be a king over us;

20 and we have been, even we, like all the nations; and our king hath judged us, and gone out before us, and fought 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 heareth all the words of the people, and speaketh them in the ears of Jehovah;

And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he spoke them in the ears of the LORD.

22 and Jehovah saith unto Samuel, 'Hearken to their voice, and thou hast caused to reign over them a king.' And Samuel saith unto the men of Israel, 'Go ye each to his city.'

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