Kings I 8

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“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.”

6 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.

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.

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

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

8 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 you.

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.

9 And now listen to their voice; only you shall solemnly testify to them, and you shall describe to them the manner of the king who shall reign over them.

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

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

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

11 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 amongst his horsemen, and running before his chariots,

“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.

12 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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

16 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

20 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.

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.”

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

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

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

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