1 Samuel 8

1 When Samuel grew old, he made his sons leaders over Israel.

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

2 His first son was named Joel, and his second son was named Abijah. They were rulers in Beersheba.

Now the name of his firstborn son was Joel: and the name of the second was Abia, judges in Bersabee.

3 However, his sons did not follow his ways. They were corrupt, making money by accepting bribes and perverting justice.

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

4 So the elders of Israel all joined together and came to meet Samuel at Ramah.

Then all the ancients of Israel being assembled, came to Samuel to Ramatha.

5 “Look here,” they told him, “you are old, and your sons do not follow your ways. Choose a king to rule over us like all the other nations.”

And they said to him: Behold thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: make us a king, to judge us, as all nations have.

6 Samuel thought this was a bad idea when they said, “Give us a king to rule over us,” so he prayed to the Lord about it.

And the word was displeasing in the eyes of Samuel, that they should say: Give us a king, to judge us. And Samuel prayed to the Lord.

7 “Do what the people tell you,” the Lord said to Samuel, “because it's not you they're rejecting, but me as their king.

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 me, that I should not reign over them.

8 They're doing just as they have always done since I led them out of Egypt right up to now. They have abandoned me and worshiped other gods, and they're doing just the same to you.

According to all their works, they have done from the day that I brought them out of Egypt until this day: as they have forsaken me, and served strange gods, so do they also unto thee.

9 So do what they want, but give them a solemn warning—explain to them what a king will do when he rules over them.”

Now therefore hearken to their voice: but yet testify to them, and foretell them the right of the king, that shall reign over them.

10 Samuel repeated all that the Lord had said to the people asking him to give them a king.

Then Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people that had desired a king of him,

11 “This is what a king will do when he rules over you,” he told them. “He will take your sons and make them serve as charioteers and horsemen, and to run as a guard in front of his chariot.

And said: This will be the right of the king, that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and put them in his chariots, and will make them his horsemen, and his running footmen to run before his chariots,

12 Some of them he will make commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and some will have to plow his fields and reap his harvest. Some will be assigned to making weapons of war and chariot equipment.

And he will appoint of them to be his tribunes, and centurions, and to plough his fields, and to reap his corn, and to make him arms and chariots.

13 He will take your daughters and have them work as perfume-makers, cooks, and bakers.

Your daughters also he will take to make him ointments, and to be his cooks, and bakers.

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

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

15 He will take a tenth of your grain harvest and the produce of your vineyards and allocate it to his chief officers and officials.

Moreover he will take the tenth of your corn, and of the revenues of your vineyards, to give his eunuchs and servants.

16 He will take your male servants and your female servants, and your best young men and your donkeys, and make them work for him.

Your servants also and handmaids, and your goodliest young men, and your asses he will take away, and put them to his work.

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

Your flocks also he will tithe, and you shall be his servants.

18 On that day you will plead to be rescued from the king you have chosen, but the Lord won't answer you then.”

And you shall cry out in that day from the face of the king, whom you have chosen to yourselves. and the Lord will not hear you in that day, because you desired unto yourselves a king.

19 But the people refused to listen to what Samuel said. “No!” they insisted. “We want our own king!

But the people would not hear the voice of Samuel, and they said: Nay: but there shall be a king over us.

20 That way we can be like all the other nations. Our king will rule us, and will lead us when we go out to fight our battles.”

And we also will be like all nations: and our king shall judge us, and go out before us, and tight our battles for us.

21 Samuel listened to everything the people said and repeated it to the Lord.

And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and rehearsed them in the ears of the Lord.

22 The Lord told Samuel, “Do what they say and give them a king.” Then Samuel told the Israelites, “Go back to your homes.”

And the Lord said to Samuel: Hearken to their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said to the men of Israel: Let every man go to his city.