I Samuel 8

vayehi ka'asher zaqen shemu'el vayyasem et-banayw shofetim leyisra'el

When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons judges over Israel.

vayehi shem-beno habbekhor yo'el veshem mishnehu aviyyah shofetim biver shava

The name of his first-born son was Joel, and his second son’s name was Abijah; they sat as judges in Beer-sheba.

velo-halekhu vanayw bidrakhav vayyittu akhare habbatsa vayyiqkhu-shokhad vayyattu mishpat

But his sons did not follow in his ways; they were bent on gain, they accepted bribes, and they subverted justice.

vayyitqabbetsu kol ziqne yisra'el vayyavo'u el-shemu'el haramatah

All the elders of Israel assembled and came to Samuel at Ramah,

vayyomeru elayw hinneh attah zaqanta uvanekha lo halekhu bidrakhekha attah simah-llanu melekh leshoftenu kekhol-haggoyim

and they said to him, “You have grown old, and your sons have not followed your ways. Therefore appoint a king for us, to govern us like all other nations.”

vayyera haddavar be'ene shemu'el ka'asher ameru tenah-llanu melekh leshoftenu vayyitpallel shemu'el el-Adonai

Samuel was displeased that they said “Give us a king to govern us.” Samuel prayed to GOD,

vayyomer Adonai el-shemu'el shema beqol ha'am lekhol asher-yomeru elekha ki lo otekha ma'asu ki-oti ma'asu mimmelokh alehem

and GOD replied to Samuel, “Heed the demand of the people in everything they say to you. For it is not you that they have rejected; it is Me they have rejected to rule over them.

kekhol-hamma'asim asher-asu miyyom ha'aloti otam mimmitsrayim ve'ad-hayyom hazzeh vayya'azvuni vayya'avdu elohim akherim ken hemmah osim gam-lakh

Like everything else they have done ever since I brought them out of Egypt to this day—forsaking Me and worshiping other gods—so they are doing to you.

ve'attah shema beqolam akh ki-ha'ed ta'id bahem vehiggadta lahem mishpat hammelekh asher yimlokh alehem

Heed their demand; but warn them solemnly, and tell them about the practices of any king who will rule over them.”

vayyomer shemu'el et kol-divre Adonai el-ha'am hasho'alim me'itto melekh

Samuel reported all GOD’s words to the people, who were asking him for a king.

vayyomer zeh yihyeh mishpat hammelekh asher yimlokh alekhem et-benekhem yiqqakh vesam lo bemerkavto uvefarashayw veratsu lifne merkavto

He said, “This will be the practice of the king who will rule over you: He will take your sons and appoint them as his charioteers and riders, and they will serve as outrunners for his chariots.

velasum lo sare alafim vesare khamishim velakharosh kharisho veliqtsor qetsiro vela'asot kele-milkhamto ukhele rikhbo

He will appoint them as his chiefs of thousands and of fifties; or they will have to plow his fields, reap his harvest, and make his weapons and the equipment for his chariots.

ve'et-benotekhem yiqqakh leraqqakhot uletabbakhot ule'ofot

He will take your daughters as perfumers, cooks, and bakers.

ve'et-sedotekhem ve'et-karmekhem vezetekhem hattovim yiqqakh venatan la'avadayw

He will seize your choice fields, vineyards, and olive groves, and give them to his courtiers.

vezarekhem vekharmekhem yasor venatan lesarisayw vela'avadayw

He will take a tenth part of your grain and vintage and give it to his eunuchs and courtiers.

ve'et-avdekhem ve'et-shifkhotekhem ve'et-bakhurekhem hattovim ve'et-khamorekhem yiqqakh ve'asah limlakhto

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

tsonekhem yasor ve'attem tihyu-lo la'avadim

He will take a tenth part of your flocks, and you shall become his slaves.

uze'aqtem bayyom hahu millifne malkekhem asher bekhartem lakhem velo-ya'aneh Adonai etkhem bayyom hahu

The day will come when you cry out because of the king whom you yourselves have chosen; and GOD will not answer you on that day.”

vayema'anu ha'am lishmoa beqol shemu'el vayyomeru lo ki im-melekh yihyeh alenu

But the people would not listen to Samuel’s warning. “No,” they said. “We must have a king over us,

vehayinu gam-anakhnu kekhol-haggoyim ushefatanu malkenu veyatsa lefanenu venilkham et-milkhamotenu

that we may be like all the other nations: Let our king rule over us and go out at our head and fight our battles.”

vayyishma shemu'el et kol-divre ha'am vayedabberem be'ozne Adonai

When Samuel heard all that the people said, he reported it to GOD.

vayyomer Adonai el-shemu'el shema beqolam vehimlakhta lahem melekh vayyomer shemu'el el-anshe yisra'el lekhu ish le'iro

And GOD said to Samuel, “Heed their demands and appoint a king for them.” Samuel then said to the representatives of Israel, “All of you go home.”