1 Samuel 8

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 In his old age Samuel appointed his sons judges over Israel.	1 And it happened that, when Samuel had become old, he appointed his sons as judges over Israel.
2 His first-born was named Joel, his second son, Abijah; they judged at Beer-sheba.	2 Now the name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of the second was Abijah: judges at Beersheba.
3 His sons did not follow his example but sought illicit gain and accepted bribes, perverting justice.	3 But his sons did not walk in his ways. Instead, they turned aside, pursuing avarice. And they accepted bribes, and they perverted judgment.
4 Therefore all the elders of Israel came in a body to Samuel at Ramah	4 Therefore, all those greater by birth of Israel, having gathered together, went to Samuel at Ramah.
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."	5 And they said to him: “Behold, you are elderly, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Appoint for us a king, so that he may judge us, just as all the nations have.”
6 Samuel was displeased when they asked for a king to judge them. He prayed to the LORD, however,	6 And the word was displeasing in the eyes of Samuel, for they had said, “Give us a king to judge us.” And Samuel prayed to the Lord.
7 who said in answer: "Grant the people's every request. It is not you they reject, they are rejecting me as their king.	7 Then the Lord said to Samuel: “Listen to the voice of the people in all that they are saying to you. For they have not rejected you, but me, lest I reign over them.
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.	8 In accord with all their works, which they have done from the day when I led them away from Egypt, even to this day: just as they have forsaken me, and served foreign gods, so now they also do to you.
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."	9 Now therefore, hear their voice. Yet truly, testify to them and foretell to them the rights of the king who will reign over them.”
10 Samuel delivered the message of the LORD in full to those who were asking him for a king.	10 And so, Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people, who had petitioned a king from him.
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.	11 And he said: “This will be the right of the king who will have authority over you: He will take your sons, and place them in his chariots. And he will make them his horsemen and his runners before his four-horse 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.	12 And he will appoint them to be his tribunes and centurions, and the plowmen of his fields, and the harvesters of the grain, and the makers of his weapons and chariots.
13 He will use your daughters as ointment-makers, as cooks, and as bakers.	13 Likewise, your daughters he will take for himself as makers of ointments, and as cooks and bakers.
14 He will take the best of your fields, vineyards, and olive groves, and give them to his officials.	14 Also, he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your best olive groves, and he will give them to his servants.
15 He will tithe your crops and your vineyards, and give the revenue to his eunuchs and his slaves.	15 Moreover, he will take one tenth of your grain and of the results of your vineyards, so that he may give these to his eunuchs and servants.
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.	16 Then, too, he will take your servants, and handmaids, and your best young men, and your donkeys, and he will set them to his work.
17 He will tithe your flocks and you yourselves will become his slaves.	17 Also, he will take a tenth of your flocks. And you will be his servants.
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."	18 And you will cry out, in that day, from the face of the king, whom you have chosen for yourselves. And the Lord will not heed you, in that day. For you requested a king for yourselves.”
19 The people, however, refused to listen to Samuel's warning and said, "Not so! There must be a king over us.	19 But the people were not willing to listen to the voice of Samuel. Instead, they said: “By no means! For there shall be a king over us,
20 We too must be like other nations, with a king to rule us and to lead us in warfare and fight our battles."	20 and we shall be just like all the Gentiles. And our king will judge us, and he will go out before us, and he will fight our wars for us.”
21 When Samuel had listened to all the people had to say, he repeated it to the LORD,	21 And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he spoke them to the ears of the Lord.
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."	22 Then the Lord said to Samuel, “Listen to their voice, and appoint a king over them.” And Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Let each one go to his own city.”