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 Now the name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second, 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 turned away after dishonest gain, 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 themselves together and came to Samuel to Ramah.

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

5 They said to him, “Behold, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now make 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 the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” Samuel prayed to the LORD.

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 The LORD said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in all that they tell you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me as the 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 According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, in that they have forsaken me and served other gods, so they also do 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 therefore, listen to their voice. However, you shall protest solemnly to them, and shall show them the way of the king who will reign 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 Samuel told all the LORD’s words to the people who asked him 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 way of the king who shall reign over you: he will take your sons and appoint them as his servants, for his chariots and to be his horsemen; and they will 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 them to him for captains of thousands and captains of fifties; and he will assign some to plow his ground and to reap his harvest; and to make his instruments of war and the instruments of 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 take your daughters to be perfumers, to be cooks, and to be bakers.

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

14 He will take your fields, your vineyards, and your olive groves, even your best, 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 one tenth of your seed and of your vineyards, and give it to his officers and to 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, your female servants, your best young men, and your donkeys, and assign them to his own work.

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 one tenth of your flocks; and you will be his servants.

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

18 You will cry out in that day because of your king whom you will have chosen for yourselves; and the LORD will not answer you in 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 the voice of Samuel; and they said, “No, but we will have 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 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.”

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

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

22 The LORD said to Samuel, “Listen to their voice, and make them a king.” Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Everyone go to your 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.