1 Samuel 8

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

When Samuel was old, 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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 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 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 to their voice, —save that thou, enter protest, against them, and tell them the manner of the king who will reign over them.

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

10 So then Samuel spake all the words of Yahweh unto the people, who were asking 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 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;

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 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;

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

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

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 and of your vineyards and give to his officers and 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;

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 Your flocks, will he tithe, —and, ye yourselves, shall become his servants.

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

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 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 Samuel; they said, “No! There must 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.

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 spake them in the ears of Yahweh.

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

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.

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.”