1 Samuel 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 Now the name of his first-born was Joel; and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judges in Beer-sheba.

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

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

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

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

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

5 And they said unto him: 'Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways; now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.'

“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 But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said: 'Give us a king to judge us.' And Samuel prayed unto 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 unto 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 be king 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 the works which 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.

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 Now therefore hearken unto their voice; howbeit thou shalt earnestly forewarn them, and shalt declare unto them the manner of the king that 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 told all the words of the LORD unto the people that 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 will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: he will take your sons, and appoint them unto him, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and they shall run 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 he will appoint them unto him for captains of thousands, and captains of fifties; and to plow his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and the instruments 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 to be cooks, and to be 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 oliveyards, even the best of them, 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 tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, 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 men-servants, and your maid-servants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work.

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 He will take the tenth of your flocks; and ye shall be his servants.

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

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

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 refused to hearken unto the voice of Samuel; and they said: '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 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.'

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 he 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: 'Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king.' And Samuel said unto the men of Israel: 'Go ye every man unto 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.”