1 Samuel, 8

1. When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as judges of Israel.

1. When Samuel became old, he made his sons judges over Israel.

2. His eldest son was called Joel and his second one, Abijah; they were judges at Beersheba.

2. The name of his first-born son was Jo'el, and the name of his second, Abi'jah; they were judges in Beer-sheba.

3. His sons did not follow his example but, seduced by the love of money, took bribes and gave biased verdicts.

3. Yet his sons did not walk in his ways, but turned aside after gain; they took bribes and perverted justice.

4. The elders of Israel all assembled, went back to Samuel at Ramah, and said,

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

5. 'Look, you are old, and your sons are not following your example. So give us a king to judge us, like the other nations.'

5. and said to him, "Behold, you are old and your sons do not walk in your ways; now appoint for us a king to govern us like all the nations."

6. Samuel thought that it was wrong of them to say, 'Let us have a king to judge us,' so he prayed to Yahweh.

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

7. But Yahweh said to Samuel, 'Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you: it is not you they have rejected

7. And the LORD said to Samuel, "Hearken to the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them.

8. but me, not wishing me to reign over them any more. They are now doing to you exactly what they have done to me since the day I brought them out of Egypt until now, deserting me and serving other gods.

8. According to all the deeds which they have done to me, from the day I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are also doing to you.

9. So, do what they ask; only, you must give them a solemn warning, and must tell them what the king who is to reign over them will do.'

9. Now then, hearken to their voice; only, you shall solemnly warn them, and show them the ways of the king who shall reign over them."

10. Everything that Yahweh had said, Samuel then repeated to the people who were asking him for a king.

10. So Samuel told all the words of the LORD to the people who were asking a king from him.

11. He said, 'This is what the king who is to reign over you will do. He will take your sons and direct them to his chariotry and cavalry, and they will run in front of his chariot.

11. He said, "These will be the ways 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. He will use them as leaders of a thousand and leaders of fifty; he will make them plough his fields and gather in his harvest and make his weapons of war and the gear for his chariots.

12. and he will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and some to plow his ground and to reap his harvest, and to make his implements of war and the equipment of his chariots.

13. He will take your daughters as perfumers, cooks and bakers.

13. He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers.

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

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

15. He will tithe your crops and vineyards to provide for his courtiers and his officials.

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

16. He will take the best of your servants, men and women, of your oxen and your donkeys, and make them work for him.

16. He will take your menservants and maidservants, and the best of your cattle and your asses, and put them to his work.

17. He will tithe your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves.

17. He will take the tenth of your flocks, and you shall be his slaves.

18. When that day comes, you will cry aloud because of the king you have chosen for yourselves, but on that day Yahweh will not hear you.'

18. And in that day you will cry out because of your king, whom you have chosen for yourselves; but the LORD will not answer you in that day."

19. The people, however, refused to listen to Samuel. They said, 'No! We are determined to have a king,

19. But the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel; and they said, "No! but we will have a king over us,

20. so that we can be like the other nations, with our own king to rule us and lead us and fight our battles.'

20. that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may govern us and go out before us and fight our battles."

21. Samuel listened to all that the people had to say and repeated it in Yahweh's ear.

21. And when Samuel had heard all the words of the people, he repeated them in the ears of the LORD.

22. Yahweh then said to Samuel, 'Do as they ask and give them a king.' Samuel then said to the Israelites, 'Go home, each of you, to his own town.'

22. And the LORD said to Samuel, "Hearken to their voice, and make them a king." Samuel then said to the men of Israel, "Go every man to his city."