1 ¶ And 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 N ow the name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second, Abiah; they were judges in Beersheba.

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 did not walk in his ways but turned aside after greed, receiving bribes and perverting that which is right.

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 ¶ Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together and came to Samuel in Ramah

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

5 a nd said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons do not walk in thy ways; therefore make us a king to judge us like all the Gentiles.

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

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 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.

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 works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, with which they have forsaken me and served other gods, so they also do 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 N ow, therefore, hearken unto their voice; however first protest solemnly against them by declaring unto them the rights 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 told all the words of the LORD unto the people that asked him for 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 right 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 chariot.

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 he will appoint captains over thousands and captains over fifties and will set them to plough his ground and to reap his harvest and to make his weapons of war and the munitions 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 to be confectioneries and to be cooks and to be bakers.

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

14 A nd he will take your fields and your vineyards and your good oliveyards and give them to his slaves.

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 to give to his officers and to his slaves.

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 menslaves and your maidslaves and your good young men and your asses and do his work with them.

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 also take the tenth of your sheep, and finally ye shall be his slaves.

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 which ye shall have chosen you, and the LORD will not hear 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 N evertheless, the people refused to hear the voice of Samuel, and they said, No, but we will have 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 Gentiles and that our king may govern us and go out before us and fight our battles.

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 rehearsed them in the ears of the LORD.

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

22 A nd the LORD said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and place a king over them. Then Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go each one unto 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.”