1 Samuel 8

1 And it came to pass when Samuel was old, that he appointed his sons to be 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 son was Joel: and the name of the second was Abia, judges in Bersabee.

And the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abijah; they judged in Beer-sheba.

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

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

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

Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel to Ramah,

5 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.

and said to him, Behold, thou art become old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now appoint us a king to judge us, like all the nations.

6 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.

And the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed to Jehovah.

7 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.

And Jehovah said to Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.

8 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.

According to all the deeds that they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, in that they have forsaken me and served other gods, so do they also unto thee.

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

And now hearken unto their voice; only, testify solemnly unto them, and declare unto them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.

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

And Samuel spoke all the words of Jehovah to the people that asked of him a king.

11 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,

And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: he will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, on his chariot and among his horsemen, and they shall run before his chariots;

12 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.

and [he will take them] that he may appoint for himself captains over thousands, and captains over fifties, and that they may plough his ground, and reap his harvest, and make his instruments of war and instruments of his chariots.

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

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

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

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

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

And he will take the tenth of your seed and of your vineyards, and give to his chamberlains and to his servants.

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

And he will take your bondmen, and your bondwomen, and your comeliest young men, and your asses, and use them for his work.

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

He will take the tenth of your sheep. And ye shall be his servants.

18 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.

And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king whom ye have chosen; and Jehovah will not answer you in that day.

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

And the people refused to hearken to the voice of Samuel; and they said, No, but there shall be a king over us,

20 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.

that we also may be like all the nations; and our king shall judge us, and go out before us, and conduct our wars.

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

And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he repeated them in the ears of Jehovah.

22 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.

And Jehovah said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said to the men of Israel, Go ye every man to his city.