1 Samuel 8

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

As Samuel aged, he lovingly appointed his sons as judges, entrusting them with the responsibility of guiding Israel.

Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: they were judges in Beersheba.

His firstborn was named Joel; his second, Abiah. Both served as judges in Beersheba.

And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.

His sons strayed from his path, lured by greed, accepting bribes and twisting justice.

Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah,

In unity, the wise elders of Israel journeyed to Ramah, seeking Samuel with a sense of urgency and purpose.

And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.

They approached him, saying, "Look, you're aging and your sons don't follow your path. Please, give us a king to lead us, like other nations have."

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

Samuel was deeply upset when they asked for a king to rule them. So, he turned to the LORD in prayer.

And 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 told Samuel, "Listen to the people's words. They haven't turned against you, but against me: they don't want me to be their king."

According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee.

Ever since the day I freed them from Egypt until now, they've kept abandoning me and worshiping other gods. They're treating you the same way.

Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.

Listen carefully to their words, but firmly express your concerns. Show them what kind of king will rule over them.

And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that asked of him a king.

Samuel passionately relayed God's message to the people who eagerly sought a king.

And 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, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots.

He warned, "The future king will rule like this: He'll claim your sons for his own, making them his charioteers and horsemen. Some will be forced to run ahead of his chariots."

And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots.

He will assign leaders to command groups of thousands and fifties. They will tend to his lands, harvest his crops, and forge his weapons and chariots.

And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers.

He will claim your daughters, compelling them to become perfume-makers, cooks, and bakers.

And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants.

He will seize your cherished lands, your fruitful vineyards, and your abundant olive groves, even the finest among them, and hand them over to his aides.

And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants.

He will claim a portion of your hard-earned crops and vineyards, sharing it with his staff and helpers.

And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work.

He will take your male and female servants, your finest young men, and your donkeys, and put them to work for him.

He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants.

He will claim a tenth of your flock, and you will serve him.

And 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.

On that day, you'll cry out because of the king you've chosen, but God won't listen to your cries.

Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us;

Despite Samuel's pleas, the people stubbornly rejected his words. They insisted, "No, we demand a king to rule us."

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

So we too can be like other nations, with a king to guide us, lead us, and defend us in our struggles.

And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of the LORD.

Samuel listened intently to the people's words, then passionately relayed their sentiments to the Lord.

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

The LORD spoke to Samuel, "Listen to their pleas, and give them a king." Then Samuel turned to the people of Israel, "Return, each of you, to your own city."