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 appointed his sons judges to Israel;

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

and the name of his firstborn son 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.

Howbeit his sons walked not in his ways, but stooped to extortion, —and took bribes, and perverted judgment.

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

So then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, —and came unto Samuel, to 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 said unto him—Lo! thou, art old, and, thy sons, walk not in thy ways: Now, appoint for 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 was displeasing in the eyes of Samuel, when they said, Give unto us a king to judge us. So Samuel prayed unto Yahweh.

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 Yahweh said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people, in all that they shall say unto thee, —for, not thee, have they rejected, but, me, have they rejected, from being 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 doings which they have done, from the day I brought them up out of Egypt, even until this day, in that they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so, are they doing even 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 to their voice, —save that thou, enter protest, against them, and tell them the manner of the king who will reign over them.

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

So then Samuel spake all the words of Yahweh unto the people, who were asking 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 who will reign over you, —Your sons, will he take and appoint for himself, as his charioteers and as 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 for himself, princes of thousands, and princes of fifties, —and to plough his fields, and to reap his harvest, and to make his weapons of war, and the instruments of his chariots;

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

And, your daughters, will he take, —as perfumers and as cooks, and as bakers;

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

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

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

And, your seed, and your vineyards, will he tithe, and give to his courtiers 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, your men-servants, and your maidservants, and your oxen, even the goodliest, and your asses, will he take, —and put them to his work;

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

Your flocks, will he tithe, —and, ye yourselves, shall become 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.'

Then will ye make outcry, in that day, because of your king whom ye have chosen for yourselves, —and Yahweh 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, a king, shall be 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.'

so shall, even we, become like all the nations, —and our king shall judge us, and go forth 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 spake them in the ears of Yahweh.

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