1 Samuel 8

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.”

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.”

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

He will take the very best of your fields, your vineyards, and your olive orchards, 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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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.”

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

But the people refused to listen to Samuel; they said, “No! There must 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.”

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.”

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

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

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

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.”