< Kings I 8 >

1 And it came to pass when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel.
When Samuel was nowe become olde, he made his sonnes Iudges ouer Israel.
2 And these [are] the names of his sons; Joel the firstborn, and the name of the second Abia, judges in Bersabee.
(And the name of his eldest sonne was Ioel, and the name of the second Abiah) euen Iudges in Beer-sheba.
3 And his sons did not walk in his way; and they turned aside after gain, and took gifts, and perverted judgments.
And his sonnes walked not in his wayes, but turned aside after lucre, and tooke rewards, and peruerted the iudgement.
4 And the men of Israel gather themselves together, and come to Armathaim to Samuel,
Wherefore all the Elders of Israel gathered them together, and came to Samuel vnto 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].
And said vnto him, Beholde, thou art olde, and thy sonnes walke not in thy wayes: make vs nowe a King to iudge vs like all 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.
But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Giue vs a King to iudge vs: and Samuel prayed vnto the Lord.
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.
And the Lord said vnto Samuel, Heare the voyce of the people in all that they shall say vnto thee: for they haue not cast thee away, but they haue cast me away, that I should not reigne ouer the.
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.
As they haue euer done since I brought them out of Egypt euen vnto this day, (and haue forsaken me, and serued other gods) euen so doe they vnto thee.
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.
Nowe therefore hearken vnto their voyce: howbeit yet testifie vnto them, and shewe them the maner of ye King that shall reigne ouer them.
10 And Samuel spoke every word of the Lord to the people who asked of him a king.
So Samuel told all the wordes of the Lord vnto the people that asked a King of him.
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 among his horsemen, and running before his chariots,
And he saide, This shall be the maner of the King that shall reigne ouer you: he will take your sonnes, and appoint them to his charets, and to be his horsemen, and some shall runne before his charet.
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.
Also he will make them his captaines ouer thousands, and captaines ouer fifties, and to eare his ground, and to reape his haruest, and to make instruments of warre, and the thinges that serue for his charets.
13 And he will take your daughters to be perfumers, and cooks, and bakers.
He will also take your daughters and make them apoticaries, and cookes, and bakers.
14 And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your good olive yards, and give them to his servants.
And he will take your fieldes, and your vineyardes, and your best Oliue trees, and giue them to his seruants.
15 And he will take the tithe of your seeds and your vineyards, and give [it] to his eunuchs, and to his servants.
And he will take the tenth of your seede, and of your vineyards, and giue it to his Eunuches, and to his seruants.
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.
And he will take your men seruants, and your maide seruants, and the chiefe of your yong men, and your asses, and put them to his worke.
17 And he will tithe your flocks; and you shall be his servants.
He will take the tenth of your sheepe, and ye shall be his seruants.
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.
And ye shall crie out at that day, because of your King, whom ye haue chosen you, and the Lord will not heare you at that day.
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 would not heare the voyce of Samuel, but did say, Nay, but there shall be a King ouer vs.
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.
And we also will be like all other nations, and our King shall iudge vs, and goe out before vs, and fight our battels.
21 And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and spoke them in the ears of the Lord.
Therefore when Samuel heard all ye wordes of ye people, he rehearsed the in ye eares of ye 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.
And the Lord saide to Samuel, Hearken vnto their voyce, and make them a King. And Samuel said vnto the men of Israel, Goe euery man vnto his citie.

< Kings I 8 >