1 Samuel 8

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

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

2 Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: [they were] judges in Beer-sheba.

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

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

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

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

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

5 And 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.

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

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

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 reign over them.

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

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 Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.

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

10 And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that asked of him a king.

So Samuel told all the words of Yahweh to the people who were asking for 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] for himself, for his chariots, and [to be] his horsemen; and [some] shall run before his chariots.

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 And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and [will set them] to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots.

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 And he will take your daughters [to be] confectionaries, and [to be] cooks, and [to be] bakers.

He will also take your daughters to be perfumers, 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 the very best of your fields, your vineyards, and your olive orchards, and give them to his servants.

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 and of your vineyards and give to his officers and his servants.

16 And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, 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 the best of your young men and your donkeys; he will put them all to work for him.

17 He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants.

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

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

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 Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us;

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

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

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

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.

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.”