I Samuelis 8

1 Factum est autem cum senuisset Samuel, posuit filios suos iudices Israel.

And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he appointed his sons judges to Israel;

2 Fuitque nomen filii eius primogeniti Ioel: et nomen secundi Abia, iudicum in Bersabee.

and the name of his firstborn son was, Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah, —they were judges in Beer-sheba.

3 Et non ambulaverunt filii illius in viis eius: sed declinaverunt post avaritiam, acceperuntque munera, et perverterunt iudicium.

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

4 Congregati ergo universi maiores natu Israel, venerunt ad Samuelem in Ramatha.

So then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, —and came unto Samuel, to Ramah;

5 Dixeruntque ei: Ecce tu senuisti, et filii tui non ambulant in viis tuis: constitue nobis regem, ut iudicet nos, sicut et universæ habent nationes.

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 Displicuit sermo in oculis Samuelis, eo quod dixissent: Da nobis regem, ut iudicet nos. Et oravit Samuel ad Dominum.

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 Dixit autem Dominus ad Samuelem: Audi vocem populi in omnibus quæ loquuntur tibi. non enim te abiecerunt, sed me, ne regnem super eos.

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 Iuxta omnia opera sua, quæ fecerunt a die qua eduxi eos de Ægypto usque ad diem hanc: sicut dereliquerunt me, et servierunt diis alienis, sic faciunt etiam tibi.

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 Nunc ergo vocem eorum audi: verumtamen contestare eos, et prædic eis ius regis, qui regnaturus est super eos.

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 Dixit itaque Samuel omnia verba Domini ad populum, qui petierat a se regem,

So then Samuel spake all the words of Yahweh unto the people, who were asking of him, a king.

11 et ait: Hoc erit ius regis, qui imperaturus est vobis: filios vestros tollet, et ponet in curribus suis, facietque sibi equites et præcursores quadrigarum suarum,

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 et constituet sibi tribunos, et centuriones, et aratores agrorum suorum, et messores segetum, et fabros armorum et curruum suorum.

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 Filias quoque vestras faciet sibi unguentarias, et focarias, et panificas.

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

14 Agros quoque vestros, et vineas, et oliveta optima tollet, et dabit servis suis.

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

15 Sed et segetes vestras, et vinearum reditus addecimabit, ut det eunuchis et famulis suis.

And, your seed, and your vineyards, will he tithe, and give to his courtiers and to his servants;

16 Servos etiam vestros, et ancillas, et iuvenes optimos, et asinos, auferet, et ponet in opere suo.

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 Greges quoque vestros addecimabit, vosque eritis ei servi.

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

18 Et clamabitis in die illa a facie regis vestri, quem elegistis vobis: et non exaudiet vos Dominus in die illa, quia petistis vobis regem.

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 Noluit autem populus audire vocem Samuelis, sed dixerunt: Nequaquam: rex enim erit super nos,

But the people refused to hearken unto the voice of Samuel, —and they said—Nay! but, a king, shall be over us:

20 et erimus nos quoque sicut omnes gentes: et iudicabit nos rex noster, et egredietur ante nos, et pugnabit bella nostra pro nobis.

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 Et audivit Samuel omnia verba populi, et locutus est ea in auribus Domini.

And Samuel heard all the words of the people, —and spake them in the ears of Yahweh.

22 Dixit autem Dominus ad Samuelem: Audi vocem eorum, et constitue super eos regem. Et ait Samuel ad viros Israel: Vadat unusquisque in civitatem suam.

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.