1 W hen Samuel became old, he made his sons judges in Israel.

And it cometh to pass, when Samuel aged, that he maketh his sons judges over Israel.

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

And the name of his first-born son is Joel, and the name of his second Abiah, judges in Beer-Sheba:

3 B ut 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.

and his sons have not walked in his ways, and turn aside after the dishonest gain, and take a bribe, and turn aside judgment.

4 T hen all the leaders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah.

And all the elders of Israel gather themselves together, and come in unto Samuel to Ramath,

5 T hey 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.”

and say unto him, `Lo, thou hast become aged, and thy sons have not walked in thy ways; now, appoint to us a king, to judge us, like all the nations.'

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

And the thing is evil in the eyes of Samuel, when they have said, `Give to us a king to judge us;' and Samuel prayeth unto Jehovah.

7 T he 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.

And Jehovah saith unto Samuel, `Hearken to the voice of the people, to all that they say unto thee, for thee they have not rejected, but Me they have rejected, from reigning over them.

8 T hey 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.

According to all the works that they have done from the day of My bringing them up out of Egypt, even unto this day, when they forsake Me, and serve other gods -- so they are doing also to thee.

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

And now, hearken to their voice; only, surely thou dost certainly protest to them, and hast declared to them the custom of the king who doth reign over them.'

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

And Samuel speaketh all the words of Jehovah unto the people who are asking from him a king,

11 H e 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.

and saith, `This is the custom of the king who doth reign over you: Your sons he doth take, and hath appointed for himself among his chariots, and among his horsemen, and they have run before his chariots;

12 H e 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.

also to appoint for himself heads of thousands, and heads of fifties; also to plow his plowing, and to reap his reaping; and to make instruments of his war, and instruments of his charioteer.

13 H e will take your daughters to make perfume, work with the food, and make bread.

`And your daughters he doth take for perfumers, and for cooks, and for bakers;

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

and your fields, and your vineyards, and your olive-yards -- the best -- he doth take, and hath given to his servants.

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

And your seed and your vineyards he doth tithe, and hath given to his eunuchs, and to his servants.

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

And your men-servants, and your maid-servants, and your young men -- the best, and your asses, he doth take, and hath prepared for his own work;

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

your flock he doth tithe, and ye are to him for servants.

18 Y ou 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.”

And ye have cried out in that day because of the king whom ye have chosen for yourselves, and Jehovah doth not answer you in that day.'

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

And the people refuse to hearken to the voice of Samuel, and say, `Nay, but a king is over us,

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

and we have been, even we, like all the nations; and our king hath judged us, and gone out before us, and fought our battles.'

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

And Samuel heareth all the words of the people, and speaketh them in the ears of Jehovah;

22 T he 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.”

and Jehovah saith unto Samuel, `Hearken to their voice, and thou hast caused to reign over them a king.' And Samuel saith unto the men of Israel, `Go ye each to his city.'