1 W hen Samuel was old, he made his sons judges over Israel.

And it came about when Samuel was old that he appointed his sons judges over Israel.

2 N ow the name of his firstborn was Joel and the name of his second, Abijah. They were judges in Beersheba.

Now the name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judging in Beersheba.

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

His sons, however, did not walk in his ways, but turned aside after dishonest gain and took bribes and perverted justice.

4 A ll the elders of Israel assembled and came to Samuel at Ramah

Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah;

5 A nd said to him, Behold, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways; now appoint us a king to rule over us like all the other nations.

and they said to him, “Behold, you have grown old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint a king for us to judge us like all the nations.”

6 B ut it displeased Samuel when they said, Give us a king to govern us. And Samuel prayed to the Lord.

But the thing was displeasing in the sight of Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” And Samuel prayed to the Lord.

7 A nd the Lord said to Samuel, Hearken to the voice of the people in all they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not be King over them.

The Lord said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them.

8 A ccording to all the works which they have done since I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, forsaking Me and serving other gods, so they also do to you.

Like all the deeds which they have done since the day that I brought them up from Egypt even to this day—in that they have forsaken Me and served other gods—so they are doing to you also.

9 S o listen now to their voice; only solemnly warn them and show them the ways of the king who shall reign over them.

Now then, listen to their voice; however, you shall solemnly warn them and tell them of the procedure of the king who will reign over them.” Warning concerning a King

10 S o Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who asked of him a king.

So Samuel spoke all the words of the Lord to the people who had asked of him a king.

11 A nd he said, These will be the ways of the king who shall 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.

He said, “ This will be the procedure of the king who will reign over you: he will take your sons and place them for himself in his chariots and among his horsemen and they will run before his chariots.

12 H e will appoint them for himself to be commanders over thousands and over fifties, and some to plow his ground and to reap his harvest and to make his implements of war and equipment for his chariots.

He will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and of fifties, and some to do his plowing and to reap his harvest and to make his weapons of war and equipment for his chariots.

13 H e will take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks, and bakers.

He will also take your daughters for perfumers and cooks and bakers.

14 H e will take your fields, your vineyards, and your olive orchards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants.

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

15 H e will take a tenth of your grain and of your vineyards and give it to his officers and to his servants.

He will take a tenth of your seed and of your vineyards and give to his officers and to his servants.

16 H e will take your men and women servants and the best of your cattle and your donkeys and put them to his work.

He will also take your male servants and your female servants and your best young men and your donkeys and use them for his work.

17 H e will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves shall be his slaves.

He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his servants.

18 I n that day you will cry out because of your king you have chosen for yourselves, but the Lord will not hear you then.

Then you will cry out in that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the Lord will not answer you in that day.”

19 N evertheless, the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel, and they said, No! We will have a king over us,

Nevertheless, the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel, and they said, “No, but there shall be a king over us,

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

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

21 S amuel heard all the people’s words and repeated them in the Lord’s ears.

Now after Samuel had heard all the words of the people, he repeated them in the Lord’s hearing.

22 A nd the Lord said to Samuel, Hearken to their voice and appoint them a king. And Samuel said to the men of Israel, Go every man to his city.

The Lord said to Samuel, “ Listen to their voice and appoint them a king.” So Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Go every man to his city.”