The People Ask for a King
1 When Samuel grew old, he made his sons judges in Israel. 2 The older son was named Joel and the younger one Abijah; they were judges in Beersheba. 3 But they did not follow their father's example; they were interested only in making money, so they accepted bribes and did not decide cases honestly.
4 Then all the leaders of Israel met together, went to Samuel in Ramah, 5 and said to him, “Look, you are getting old and your sons don't follow your example. So then, appoint a king to rule over us, so that we will have a king, as other countries have.” 6 Samuel was displeased with their request for a king; so he prayed to the Lord, 7 and the Lord said, “Listen to everything the people say to you. You are not the one they have rejected; I am the one they have rejected as their king. 8 Ever since I brought them out of Egypt, they have turned away from me and worshiped other gods; and now they are doing to you what they have always done to me. 9 So then, listen to them, but give them strict warnings and explain how their kings will treat them.”
10 Samuel told the people who were asking him for a king everything that the Lord had said to him. 11 “This is how your king will treat you,” Samuel explained. “He will make soldiers of your sons; some of them will serve in his war chariots, others in his cavalry, and others will run before his chariots. 12 He will make some of them officers in charge of a thousand men, and others in charge of fifty men. Your sons will have to plow his fields, harvest his crops, and make his weapons and the equipment for his chariots. 13 Your daughters will have to make perfumes for him and work as his cooks and his bakers. 14 He will take your best fields, vineyards, and olive groves, and give them to his officials. 15 He will take a tenth of your grain and of your grapes for his court officers and other officials. 16 He will take your servants and your best cattle and donkeys, and make them work for him. 17 He will take a tenth of your flocks. And you yourselves will become his slaves. 18 When that time comes, you will complain bitterly because of your king, whom you yourselves chose, but the Lord will not listen to your complaints.”
19 The people paid no attention to Samuel, but said, “No! We want a king, 20 so that we will be like other nations, with our own king to rule us and to lead us out to war and to fight our battles.” 21 Samuel listened to everything they said and then went and told it to the Lord. 22 The Lord answered, “Do what they want and give them a king.” Then Samuel told all the men of Israel to go back home.
Israēls pieprasa ķēniņu
1 Kad Samuēls kļuva vecs, viņš iecēla savus dēlus Israēlam par soģiem. 2 Viņa pirmdzimto dēlu sauca Joēls un otro – Abija, viņi bija soģi Bēršebā. 3 Bet viņa dēli nestaigāja viņa ceļus un kāroja mantu, tie ņēma kukuļus un sagrozīja tiesu.
4 Visi Israēla vecajie sapulcējās un nāca pie Samuēla uz Rāmu. 5 Viņi tam teica: “Redzi, tu esi vecs, bet tavi dēli nestaigā tavus ceļus. Jel iecel mums ķēniņu, kas spriestu tiesu, kā tas ir visām tautām!” 6 Bet Samuēlam nepatika, ka viņi teica: “Dod mums ķēniņu, kas spriestu mums tiesu,” un Samuēls lūdza Kungu.
7 Kungs sacīja Samuēlam: “Ieklausies tautas balsī – visā, ko viņi tev saka, jo ne tevi viņi ir atraidījuši, bet mani, lai es vairs nebūtu viņu ķēniņš. 8 Tādi ir visi viņu darbi, ko tie darījuši kopš dienas, kad es tos izvedu no Ēģiptes, līdz šai dienai, – mani tie ir atstājuši un kalpojuši citiem dieviem; tāpat viņi dara arī ar tevi. 9 Tad nu paklausi viņus, bet nopietni tos brīdini un dari tiem zināmu, kā ķēniņš rīkosies, valdīdams pār tiem.”
10 Visu Kunga teikto Samuēls izstāstīja ļaudīm, kuri prasīja no viņa ķēniņu. 11 Viņš teica: “Tā rīkosies ķēniņš, valdīdams pār jums, – viņš ņems jūsu dēlus un liks sev par ratu braucējiem un zirgu puišiem, un tie skries viņa ratiem pa priekšu. 12 Viņš iecels sev virsniekus pār tūkstošiem un virsniekus pār piecdesmit, un tiem būs jāar viņa lauki un jāpļauj viņa raža, jātaisa viņam ieroči un kararatu rīki. 13 Un viņš ņems jūsu meitas par smaržu maisītājām, virējām un maizes cepējām. 14 Un jūsu labākos tīrumus, vīnadārzus un olīvkokus viņš ņems un atdos saviem kalpiem. 15 Viņš ņems desmito tiesu no jūsu sēklas un vīnadārziem un atdos saviem ierēdņiem un kalpiem. 16 Un labākos no jūsu vergiem un verdzenēm un jūsu jaunekļiem, un jūsu ēzeļus viņš ņems saviem darbiem. 17 Viņš ņems desmito tiesu no jūsu sīklopiem, un jūs būsiet viņa vergi. 18 Tad jūs brēksiet par ķēniņu, ko būsiet izvēlējušies, bet Kungs jums tad neatbildēs!” 19 Bet tauta atteicās klausīt Samuēlu un teica: “Nē! Ka tik mums būtu ķēniņš! 20 Lai mēs esam kā citas tautas, un mūsu ķēniņš lai spriež mums tiesu un iet mums pa priekšu karot mūsu karos!” 21 Samuēls noklausījās visu, ko tauta teica, un izstāstīja to Kungam.
22 Un Kungs sacīja Samuēlam: “Paklausi viņus un iecel tiem ķēniņu!” Tad Samuēls sacīja Israēla vīriem: “Dodieties katrs uz savu pilsētu.”
