1 Samuel 8

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

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

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

And these [are] the names of his sons; Joel the first-born, and the name of the second Abia, judges in Bersabee.

3 His sons did not walk in his ways, but chased after dishonest gain. They took bribes and perverted justice.

And his sons did not walk in his way; and they turned aside after gain, and took gifts, and perverted judgments.

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

And the men of Israel gather themselves together, and come to Armathaim to Samuel,

5 They said to him, “Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations.”

and they said to him, Behold, thou art grown old, and thy sons walk not in thy way; and now set over us a king to judge us, as also the other nations [have].

6 But it displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” So Samuel prayed to Yahweh.

And the thing [was] evil in the eyes of Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us: and Samuel prayed to the Lord.

7 Yahweh said to Samuel, “Obey the voice of the people in everything they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them.

And the Lord said to Samuel, Hear the voice of the people, in whatever they shall say to thee; for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me from reigning over them.

8 They are acting now the same as they did since the day I brought them out of Egypt, forsaking me, and serving other gods, and so they are also doing to you.

According to all their doings which they have done to me, from the day that I brought them out of Egypt until this day, even [as] they have deserted me, and served other gods, so they do also to thee.

9 Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know the way the king will rule over them.”

And now hearken to their voice; only thou shalt solemnly testify to them, and thou shalt describe to them the manner of the king who shall reign over them.

10 So Samuel told all the words of Yahweh to the people who were asking for a king.

And Samuel spoke every word of the Lord to the people who asked of him a king.

11 He said, “This will be the practice of the king who will reign over you. He will take your sons and appoint them to his chariots and to be his horsemen, and to run before his chariots.

And he said, This shall be the manner of the king that shall rule over you: he shall take your sons, and put them in his chariots, and among his horsemen, and running before his chariots,

12 He will appoint for himself captains of thousands and captains of fifties. He will make some plow his ground, some reap his harvest, and some make his weapons of war and the equipment for his chariots.

and [his manner shall be] to make them to himself captains of hundreds and captains of thousands; and to reap his harvest, and gather his vintage, and prepare his instruments of war, and the implements of his chariots.

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

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

14 He will take the very best of your fields, your vineyards, and your olive orchards, and give them to his servants.

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

15 He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vineyards and give to his officers and his servants.

And he will take the tithe of your seeds and your vineyards, and give [it] to his eunuchs, and to his servants.

16 He will take your male servants and your female servants and the best of your young men and your donkeys; he will put them all to work for him.

And he will take your servants, and your handmaids, and your good herds and your asses, and will take the tenth of them for his works.

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

And he will tithe your flocks; and ye shall be his servants.

18 Then on that day you will cry out because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves; but Yahweh will not answer you on that day.”

And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king whom ye have chosen to yourselves, and the Lord shall not hear you in those days, because ye have chosen to yourselves a king.

19 But the people refused to listen to Samuel; they said, “No! There must be a king over us

But the people would not hearken to Samuel; and they said to him, Nay, but there shall be a king over us.

20 so that we might be like all the other nations, and so that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.”

An we also will be like all the nations; and our king shall judge us, and shall go out before us, and fight our battles.

21 When Samuel heard all the words of the people he repeated them in the ears of Yahweh.

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

22 Yahweh said to Samuel, “Obey their voice and cause someone to be king for them.” So Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Every man must go to his own city.”

And the Lord said to Samuel, Hearken to their voice, and appoint them a king. And Samuel said to the men of Israel, Let each man depart to his city.