1 Samuel 8

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

When Samuel grew old, he made his sons leaders 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.

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

3 Howbeit his sons walked not in his ways, but stooped to extortion, —and took bribes, and perverted judgment.

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

4 So then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, —and came unto Samuel, to Ramah;

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

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

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 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.

“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 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.

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 to their voice, —save that thou, enter protest, against them, and tell them the manner of the king who will 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 So then Samuel spake all the words of Yahweh unto the people, who were asking 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 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;

“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 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;

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, your daughters, will he take, —as perfumers and as cooks, and as bakers;

He will take your daughters and have them work as perfume-makers, 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;

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

15 And, your seed, and your vineyards, will he tithe, and give to his courtiers 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, your men-servants, and your maidservants, and your oxen, even the goodliest, and your asses, will he take, —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 Your flocks, will he tithe, —and, ye yourselves, shall become his servants.

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

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.

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, a king, shall be over us:

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

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 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 spake them in the ears of Yahweh.

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

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.

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