1 Samuel, 8

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

1. When Samuel grew 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 Beersheba.

2. His elder son was Joel and the second was Abijah, and both of them were judges in Beersheba.

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

3. But they were not like their father; they had their vested interests, taking bribes and perverting justice.

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

4. Because of this, all the chiefs of Israel gathered together and went to Samuel in 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.

5. They said to him, "You are already old and your sons are not following your ways. Give us a king to rule over us as in all the other nations."

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

6. Samuel was very displeased with what they said, "Give us a king to rule us," and he 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.

7. And Yahweh told him, "Give to this people all that they ask for.

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.

8. They are not rejecting you but they have rejected me as their king. They are now doing to you what they did to me from the day I brought them out of Egypt until now, forsaking me and serving other gods.

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.

9. Nevertheless, listen to them, and give them a serious warning. Tell them how they will be treated by their king."

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

10. So Samuel answered those who were asking him 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.

11. and he told them all that Yahweh said to him, "Look, these will be the demands of your king: he will take your sons and assign them to his chariot and his horses and have them run before his chariot.

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.

12. Some he will assign as commanders over a thousand men and commanders over fifty. Others will till his ground and reap his harvest, make his implements 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.

13. He will take your daughters as well to prepare perfumes, to cook and to bake for him.

14. And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, [even] the best [of them], and give [them] to his servants.

14. He will take the best of your fields, your vineyards and your olive orchards and give them to his officials.

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

15. He will take a tenth portion of your grain and of your vineyards and give it to his officers and to 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.

16. He will take your menservants and maidservants, the best of your cattle and your asses for his own work.

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

17. He will take the tenth of your flocks and you yourselves will become 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.

18. When these things happen, you will cry out because of the king whom you have chosen for yourselves. But by then, Yahweh will not answer you."

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

19. The people paid no attention to all that Samuel said. They insisted, "No! We want a king to govern us as in all the other nations.

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.

20. Our king shall govern us, lead us and go ahead of us in our battles."

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

21. Upon hearing all that his people said, Samuel repeated it to 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.

22. But Yahweh said to him, "Listen to them and give them a king." Samuel then said to the Israelites, "Go back, all of you, to your own cities."