1 Samuel

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

1When Samuel was old, he made his sons judges over Israel. A judge was a leader who settled people's arguments.

2Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: they were judges in Beersheba.

2His oldest son was named Joel. His second son was named Abiah. They were judges in the town of Beersheba.

3And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.

3But his sons did not live the way Samuel did. They wanted money. They took secret gifts and did not judge fairly.

NoteThe KJV word "lucre" means money gained in a dishonest way.

4Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah,

4So all the leaders of Israel met together. They came to Samuel at his town, Ramah.

5And 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.

5They said, "You are old, and your sons do not live like you. Give us a king to lead us, like the other nations have."

6But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD.

6Samuel did not like what they said when they asked for a king. So Samuel prayed to the LORD.

7And 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.

7The LORD told Samuel, "Do what the people ask. They have not turned away from you. They have turned away from me as their king."

8According 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.

8"They have acted this way since I brought them out of Egypt. They left me and served other gods. Now they are doing the same to you."

9Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.

9"So listen to them. But warn them clearly. Tell them what their king will do to them."

10And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that asked of him a king.

10So Samuel told the people everything the LORD had said. They were the ones asking for a king.

11And 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.

11Samuel said, "Here is what your king will do. He will take your sons for himself. Some will drive his war carts. Some will ride his horses. Some will run in front of his carts."

12And 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.

12"He will make some of them army leaders. Others will plow his fields and gather his crops. Others will make weapons and parts for his war carts."

Note"To ear his ground" is old English for plowing a field to get it ready for planting.

13And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers.

13"He will take your daughters to make perfume, to cook, and to bake bread."

NoteThe KJV says "confectionaries." This means women who mixed perfumes and sweet-smelling oils.

14And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants.

14"He will take your fields, your grape vines, and your olive trees. He will take the best ones and give them to his helpers."

15And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants.

15"He will take one tenth of your grain and your grapes. He will give it to his officers and his helpers."

16And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work.

16"He will take your workers, your best young men, and your donkeys. He will put them all to work for himself."

17He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants.

17"He will take one tenth of your sheep. And you yourselves will be his servants."

18And 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.

18"Then you will cry out because of the king you chose. But on that day the LORD will not answer you."

19Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us;

19Even so, the people would not listen to Samuel. They said, "No! We want a king over us."

20That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.

20"Then we will be like all the other nations. Our king will lead us and go out to fight our battles."

21And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of the LORD.

21Samuel listened to everything the people said. Then he told it all to the LORD.

22And 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.

22The LORD said to Samuel, "Listen to them and give them a king." So Samuel told the men of Israel, "Everyone go home to your own town."