1 Samuel 8

1 And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he appointed his sons judges to Israel;

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

2 and the name of his firstborn son was, Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah, —they were judges in Beer-sheba.

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

3 Howbeit his sons walked not in his ways, but stooped to extortion, —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 So then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, —and came unto Samuel, to Ramah;

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

5 and said unto him—Lo! thou, art old, and, thy sons, walk not in thy ways: Now, appoint for us a king to judge us, like all the nations.

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 But the thing was displeasing in the eyes of Samuel, when they said, Give unto us a king to judge us. So Samuel prayed unto Yahweh.

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

7 And Yahweh said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people, in all that they shall say unto thee, —for, not thee, have they rejected, but, me, have they rejected, from being king 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 the doings which they have done, from the day I brought them up out of Egypt, even until this day, in that they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so, are they doing even 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, —save that thou, enter protest, against them, and tell them the manner of the king who will 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 So then Samuel spake all the words of Yahweh unto the people, who were asking of him, a king.

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

11 And he said, This, will be the manner of the king who will reign over you, —Your sons, will he take and appoint for himself, as his charioteers and as his horsemen, and they shall 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 for himself, princes of thousands, and princes of fifties, —and to plough his fields, and to reap his harvest, and to make his weapons of war, and the instruments of his 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 And, your daughters, will he take, —as perfumers and as cooks, and as bakers;

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

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

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

15 And, your seed, and your vineyards, will he tithe, and give to his courtiers and to his servants;

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

16 And, your men-servants, and your maidservants, and your oxen, even the goodliest, and your asses, will he take, —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, will he tithe, —and, ye yourselves, shall become his servants.

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

18 Then will ye make outcry, in that day, because of your king whom ye have chosen for yourselves, —and Yahweh will not answer you, in that day.

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 refused to hearken unto the voice of Samuel, —and they said—Nay! but, a king, shall be 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 so shall, even we, become like all the nations, —and our king shall judge us, and go forth before us, and fight our battles.

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 spake them in the ears of Yahweh.

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

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