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

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

2 A nd the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abijah; they judged in Beer-sheba.

The name of his first-born son was Joel. And the name of his second son was Abijah. They were men who judged in Beersheba.

3 A nd his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted justice.

But his sons did not walk in his ways. They turned aside to get money. They took pay to do things that were not right and fair.

4 T hen all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel to Ramah,

Then all the leaders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah.

5 a nd said to him, Behold, thou art become old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now appoint us a king to judge us, like all the nations.

They said to him, “See, you have grown old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Choose a king to rule over us like all the nations.”

6 A nd the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed to Jehovah.

But Samuel was not pleased when they said, “Give us a king to rule over us.” And Samuel prayed to the Lord.

7 A nd Jehovah said to 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.

The Lord said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in all they say to you. For they have not turned away from you. They have turned away from Me, that I should not be king over them.

8 A ccording to all the deeds that they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, in that they have forsaken me and served other gods, so do they also unto thee.

They are doing to you what they have done since the day I brought them out of Egypt until now. They have turned away from Me and worshiped other gods.

9 A nd now hearken unto their voice; only, testify solemnly unto them, and declare unto them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.

So listen to their voice. But tell them of the danger and show them the ways of the king who will rule over them.”

10 A nd Samuel spoke all the words of Jehovah to the people that asked of him a king.

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

11 A nd 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, on his chariot and among his horsemen, and they shall run before his chariots;

He said, “This will be the way the king will rule over you. He will take your sons and make them drive his war-wagons, be his horsemen, and run in front of his war-wagons.

12 a nd that he may appoint for himself captains over thousands, and captains over fifties, and that they may plough his ground, and reap his harvest, and make his instruments of war and instruments of his chariots.

He will choose leaders of thousands and of fifties. He will choose men to plow his ground, gather his grain, and make objects for war and for his war-wagons.

13 A nd he will take your daughters for perfumers, and cooks, and bakers.

He will take your daughters to make perfume, work with the food, and make bread.

14 A nd your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, the best, will he take and give to his servants.

He will take the best of your fields and vines and olives, and give them to his servants.

15 A nd he will take the tenth of your seed and of your vineyards, and give to his chamberlains and to his servants.

He will take a tenth part of your grain and your vines to give to his leaders and his servants.

16 A nd he will take your bondmen, and your bondwomen, and your comeliest young men, and your asses, and use them for his work.

He will take your men servants and your women servants and the best of your cattle and your donkeys, and use them for his work.

17 H e will take the tenth of your sheep. And ye shall be his servants.

He will take a tenth part of your flocks, and you yourselves will be made to work for him.

18 A nd ye shall cry out in that day because of your king whom ye have chosen; and Jehovah will not answer you in that day.

You will cry out in that day because of your king you have chosen for yourselves. But the Lord will not answer you in that day.”

19 A nd the people refused to hearken to the voice of Samuel; and they said, No, but there shall be a king over us,

But the people would not listen to Samuel. They said, “No! We will have a king rule over us,

20 t hat we also may be like all the nations; and our king shall judge us, and go out before us, and conduct our wars.

so we may be like other nations. Our king may rule over us and go out before us and fight our battles.”

21 A nd Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he repeated them in the ears of Jehovah.

After Samuel heard all the people’s words, he told the Lord what they had said.

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

The Lord said to Samuel, “Listen to their voice, and choose a king for them.” So Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Every one of you go home to his city.”