1 Cuando Samuel se hizo viejo, puso a sus hijos como jueces en Israel. | 1 In his old age Samuel appointed his sons judges over Israel. |
2 Su primogénito se llamaba Joel y el otro, Abías; juzgaban en Israel en Berseba. | 2 His first-born was named Joel, his second son, Abijah; they judged at Beer-sheba. |
3 Pero sus hijos no siguieron su camino: fueron atraídos por el lucro, aceptaron regalos y torcieron el derecho. | 3 His sons did not follow his example but sought illicit gain and accepted bribes, perverting justice. |
4 Se reunieron, pues, todos los ancianos de Israel y se fueron donde Samuel a Ramá, | 4 Therefore all the elders of Israel came in a body to Samuel at Ramah |
5 y le dijeron: «Mira, tú te has hecho viejo y tus hijos no siguen tu camino. Pues bien, ponnos un rey para que nos juzgue, como todas las naciones». | 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 Disgustó a Samuel que dijeran: «Danos un rey para que nos juzgue» e invocó a Yahveh. . | 6 Samuel was displeased when they asked for a king to judge them. He prayed to the LORD, however, |
7 Pero Yahveh dijo a Samuel: «Haz caso a todo lo que el pueblo te dice. Porque no te han rechazado a ti, me han rechazado a mí, para que no reine sobre ellos. | 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 Todo lo que ellos me han hecho desde el día que los saqué de Egipto hasta hoy, abandonándome y sirviendo a otros dioses, te han hecho también a ti. | 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 Escucha, sin embargo, su petición. Pero les advertirás claramente y les enseñarás el fuero del rey que va a reinar sobre ellos». | 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 Samuel repitió todas estas palabras de Yahveh al pueblo que le pedía un rey, | 10 Samuel delivered the message of the LORD in full to those who were asking him for a king. |
11 diciendo: «He aquí el fuero del rey que va a reinar sobre vosotros. Tomará vuestros hijos y los destinará a sus carros y a sus caballos y tendrán que correr delante de su carro. | 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 Los empleará como jefes de mil y jefes de cincuenta; les hará labrar sus campos, segar su cosecha, fabricar sus armas de guerra y los arreos de sus carros. | 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 Tomara vuestras hijas para perfumistas, cocineras y panaderas. | 13 He will use your daughters as ointment-makers, as cooks, and as bakers. |
14 Tomará vuestros campos, vuestras viñas y vuestros mejores olivares y se los dará a sus servidores. | 14 He will take the best of your fields, vineyards, and olive groves, and give them to his officials. |
15 Tomará el diezmo de vuestros cultivos y vuestras viñas para dárselo a sus eunucos y a sus servidores. | 15 He will tithe your crops and your vineyards, and give the revenue to his eunuchs and his slaves. |
16 Tomará vuestros criados y criadas, y vuestros mejores bueyes y asnos y les hará trabajar para él. | 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 Sacará el diezmo de vuestros rebaños y vosotros mismos seréis sus esclavos. | 17 He will tithe your flocks and you yourselves will become his slaves. |
18 Ese día os lamentaréis a causa del rey que os habéis elegido, pero entonces Yahveh no os responderá». | 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 El pueblo no quiso eschuchar a Samuel y dijo: «¡No! Tendremos un rey | 19 The people, however, refused to listen to Samuel's warning and said, "Not so! There must be a king over us. |
20 y nosotros seremos también como los demás pueblos: nuestro rey nos juzgará, irá al frente de nosotros y combatirá nuestros combates». | 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 Oyó Samuel todas las palabras del pueblo y las repitió a los oídos de Yahveh. | 21 When Samuel had listened to all the people had to say, he repeated it to the LORD, |
22 Pero Yahveh dijo a Samuel: «Hazles caso y ponles un rey». Samuel dijo entonces a todos los hombres de Israel: «Volved cada uno a vuestra ciudad». | 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." |