1 Samuel 8

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as judges of Israel.	1 In his old age Samuel appointed his sons judges over Israel.
2 His eldest son was cal ed Joel and his second one, Abijah; they were judges at Beersheba.	2 His first-born was named Joel, his second son, Abijah; they judged at Beer-sheba.
3 His sons did not fol ow his example but, seduced by the love of money, took bribes and gave biasedverdicts.	3 His sons did not follow his example but sought illicit gain and accepted bribes, perverting justice.
4 The elders of Israel all assembled, went back to Samuel at Ramah, and said,	4 Therefore all the elders of Israel came in a body to Samuel at Ramah
5 'Look, you are old, and your sons are not fol owing your example. So give us a king to judge us, like theother nations.'	5 and said to him, "Now that you are old, and your sons do not follow your example, appoint a king over us, as other nations have, to judge us."
6 Samuel thought that it was wrong of them to say, 'Let us have a king to judge us,' so he prayed toYahweh.	6 Samuel was displeased when they asked for a king to judge them. He prayed to the LORD, however,
7 But Yahweh said to Samuel, 'Obey the voice of the people in al that they say to you: it is not you theyhave rejected	7 who said in answer: "Grant the people's every request. It is not you they reject, they are rejecting me as their king.
8 but me, not wishing me to reign over them any more. They are now doing to you exactly what they havedone to me since the day I brought them out of Egypt until now, deserting me and serving other gods.	8 As they have treated me constantly from the day I brought them up from Egypt to this day, deserting me and worshiping strange gods, so do they treat you too.
9 So, do what they ask; only, you must give them a solemn warning, and must tell them what the kingwho is to reign over them will do.'	9 Now grant their request; but at the same time, warn them solemnly and inform them of the rights of the king who will rule them."
10 Everything that Yahweh had said, Samuel then repeated to the people who were asking him for aking.	10 Samuel delivered the message of the LORD in full to those who were asking him for a king.
11 He said, 'This is what the king who is to reign over you wil do. He wil take your sons and direct themto his chariotry and cavalry, and they wil run in front of his chariot.	11 He told them: "The rights of the king who will rule you will be as follows: He will take your sons and assign them to his chariots and horses, and they will run before his chariot.
12 He wil use them as leaders of a thousand and leaders of fifty; he wil make them plough his fields andgather in his harvest and make his weapons of war and the gear for his chariots.	12 He will also appoint from among them his commanders of groups of a thousand and of a hundred soldiers. He will set them to do his plowing and his harvesting, and to make his implements of war and the equipment of his chariots.
13 He wil take your daughters as perfumers, cooks and bakers.	13 He will use your daughters as ointment-makers, as cooks, and as bakers.
14 He wil take the best of your fields, your vineyards and your olive groves and give them to his officials.	14 He will take the best of your fields, vineyards, and olive groves, and give them to his officials.
15 He wil tithe your crops and vineyards to provide for his courtiers and his officials.	15 He will tithe your crops and your vineyards, and give the revenue to his eunuchs and his slaves.
16 He wil take the best of your servants, men and women, of your oxen and your donkeys, and makethem work for him.	16 He will take your male and female servants, as well as your best oxen and your asses, and use them to do his work.
17 He wil tithe your flocks, and you yourselves wil become his slaves.	17 He will tithe your flocks and you yourselves will become his slaves.
18 When that day comes, you wil cry aloud because of the king you have chosen for yourselves, but onthat day Yahweh wil not hear you.'	18 When this takes place, you will complain against the king whom you have chosen, but on that day the LORD will not answer you."
19 The people, however, refused to listen to Samuel. They said, 'No! We are determined to have a king,	19 The people, however, refused to listen to Samuel's warning and said, "Not so! There must be a king over us.
20 so that we can be like the other nations, with our own king to rule us and lead us and fight our battles.'	20 We too must be like other nations, with a king to rule us and to lead us in warfare and fight our battles."
21 Samuel listened to al that the people had to say and repeated it in Yahweh's ear.	21 When Samuel had listened to all the people had to say, he repeated it to the LORD,
22 Yahweh then said to Samuel, 'Do as they ask and give them a king.' Samuel then said to theIsraelites, 'Go home, each of you, to his own town.'	22 who then said to him, "Grant their request and appoint a king to rule them." Samuel thereupon said to the men of Israel, "Each of you go to his own city."