The First Book of Samuel

⭑ Douay-Rheims :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 8 -

(Deuteronomy 17:14–20)

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

Now the name of his firstborn son was Joel: and the name of the second was Abia, judges in Bersabee.

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

Then all the ancients of Israel being assembled, came to Samuel to Ramatha.

And they said to him: Behold thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: make us a king, to judge us, as all nations have.

And the word was displeasing in the eyes of Samuel, that they should say: Give us a king, to judge us. And Samuel prayed to the Lord.

And the Lord said to Samuel: Hearken to the voice of the people in all that they say to thee. For they have not rejected thee, but me, that I should not reign over them.

According to all their works, they have done from the day that I brought them out of Egypt until this day: as they have forsaken me, and served strange gods, so do they also unto thee.

Now therefore hearken to their voice: but yet testify to them, and foretell them the right of the king, that shall reign over them.

Samuel’s Warning

Then Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people that had desired a king of him,

And said: This will be the right of the king, that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and put them in his chariots, and will make them his horsemen, and his running footmen to run before his chariots,

And he will appoint of them to be his tribunes, and centurions, and to plough his fields, and to reap his corn, and to make him arms and chariots.

Your daughters also he will take to make him ointments, and to be his cooks, and bakers.

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

Moreover he will take the tenth of your corn, and of the revenues of your vineyards, to give his eunuchs and servants.

Your servants also and handmaids, and your goodliest young men, and your asses he will take away, and put them to his work.

Your flocks also he will tithe, and you shall be his servants.

And you shall cry out in that day from the face of the king, whom you have chosen to yourselves. and the Lord will not hear you in that day, because you desired unto yourselves a king.

God Grants the Request

But the people would not hear the voice of Samuel, and they said: Nay: but there shall be a king over us.

And we also will be like all nations: and our king shall judge us, and go out before us, and tight our battles for us.

And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and rehearsed them in the ears of the Lord.

And the Lord said to Samuel: Hearken to their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said to the men of Israel: Let every man go to his city.

(Deuteronomy 17:14–20)

When Samuel was old, he made his sons judges over Israel.

Now the name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah. They were judges in Beersheba.

His sons didn’t walk in his ways, but turned away after dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice.

Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together and came to Samuel to Ramah.

They said to him, “Behold, you are old, and your sons don’t walk in your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.”

But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” Samuel prayed to the LORD.

The LORD said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in all that they tell you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me as the king over them.

According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, in that they have forsaken me and served other gods, so they also do to you.

Now therefore, listen to their voice. However, you shall protest solemnly to them, and shall show them the way of the king who will reign over them.”

Samuel’s Warning

Samuel told all the LORD’s words to the people who asked him for a king.

He said, “This will be the way of the king who shall reign over you: he will take your sons and appoint them as his servants, for his chariots and to be his horsemen; and they will run before his chariots.

He will appoint them to him for captains of thousands and captains of fifties; and he will assign some to plow his ground and to reap his harvest; and to make his instruments of war and the instruments of his chariots.

He will take your daughters to be perfumers, to be cooks, and to be bakers.

He will take your fields, your vineyards, and your olive groves, even your best, and give them to his servants.

He will take one tenth of your seed and of your vineyards, and give it to his officers and to his servants.

He will take your male servants, your female servants, your best young men, and your donkeys, and assign them to his own work.

He will take one tenth of your flocks; and you will be his servants.

You will cry out in that day because of your king whom you will have chosen for yourselves; and the LORD will not answer you in that day.”

God Grants the Request

But the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel; and they said, “No, but we will have a king over us,

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

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

The LORD said to Samuel, “Listen to their voice, and make them a king.” Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Everyone go to your own city.”