Factum est autem cum senuisset Samuel, posuit filios suos judices Israël.

In his old age, Samuel appointed his sons to perform the judge’s office in Israel;

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

Fuitque nomen filii ejus primogeniti Joël: et nomen secundi Abia, judicum in Bersabee.

the elder was called Joel, and the younger Abia, and they held assize at Bersabee.

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

Et non ambulaverunt filii illius in viis ejus: sed declinaverunt post avaritiam, acceperuntque munera, et perverterunt judicium.

But these sons of his did not follow in his footsteps; greed bent them to take bribes, and to pervert justice.

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

Congregati ergo universi majores natu Israël, venerunt ad Samuelem in Ramatha.

So all the elders of Israel met Samuel at Ramatha;

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

Dixeruntque ei: Ecce tu senuisti, et filii tui non ambulant in viis tuis: constitue nobis regem, ut judicet nos, sicut et universæ habent nationes.

Thou hast grown old, they said to him, and thy sons do not follow in thy footsteps. Give us a king, such as other nations have, to sit in judgement over us.

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.

Displicuit sermo in oculis Samuelis, eo quod dixissent: Da nobis regem, ut judicet nos. Et oravit Samuel ad Dominum.

It was little to Samuel’s mind, this demand for a king to be their judge; but when he betook himself to the Lord in prayer,

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.

Dixit autem Dominus ad Samuelem: Audi vocem populi in omnibus quæ loquuntur tibi: non enim te abjecerunt, sed me, ne regnem super eos.

the Lord said to him, Grant the people all they ask of thee. It is my rule over them they are casting off, not thine.

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.

Juxta omnia opera sua quæ fecerunt, a die qua eduxi eos de Ægypto usque ad diem hanc: sicut dereliquerunt me, et servierunt diis alienis, sic faciunt etiam tibi.

It has ever been the same, since the day when I rescued them from Egypt; me they will ever be forsaking, to worship other gods; and now it is thy turn.

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.

Nunc ergo vocem eorum audi: verumtamen contestare eos, et prædic eis jus regis, qui regnaturus est super eos.

Grant their request, but put thy protest on record; tell them what rights their king will claim, when they have a king to rule over them.

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

Dixit itaque Samuel omnia verba Domini ad populum, qui petierat a se regem.

In answer, then, to their request for a king, Samuel told the people all the Lord had said to him.

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

Et ait: Hoc erit jus regis, qui imperaturus est vobis: filios vestros tollet, et ponet in curribus suis: facietque sibi equites et præcursores quadrigarum suarum,

When you have a king to reign over you, he will claim the rights of a king. He will take away your sons from you, to drive his chariots; he will need horsemen, and outriders for his teams;

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,

et constituet sibi tribunos, et centuriones, et aratores agrorum suorum, et messores segetum, et fabros armorum et curruum suorum.

regiments, too, with commanders and captains to marshal them, ploughmen and reapers, armourers and wheelwrights.

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

Filias quoque vestras faciet sibi unguentarias, et focarias, et panificas.

It is your daughters that will make his perfumes, and cook for him, and bake for him.

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

Agros quoque vestros, et vineas, et oliveta optima tollet, et dabit servis suis.

All the best of your lands and vineyards and olive-yards he will take away, and entrust to his own bailiffs;

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

Sed et segetes vestras et vinearum reditus addecimabit, ut det eunuchis et famulis suis.

and he will tithe the revenues of such crop and vintage as is left you, to pay his own courtiers and his own retinue.

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

Servos etiam vestros, et ancillas, et juvenes optimos, et asinos, auferet, et ponet in opere suo.

He will take away servants and handmaids of yours, all the lustiest of the young men, all the asses that work for you, to work for him instead;

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

Greges quoque vestros addecimabit, vosque eritis ei servi.

of your herds, too, he will take tithe. You will be his slaves;

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

Et clamabitis in die illa a facie regis vestri, quem elegistis vobis: et non exaudiet vos Dominus in die illa, quia petistis vobis regem.

and when you cry out for redress against the king you have chosen for yourselves, the Lord will not listen to you; you asked for a king.

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.

Noluit autem populus audire vocem Samuelis, sed dixerunt: Nequaquam: rex enim erit super nos,

But Samuel could not gain the ear of the people; That will not serve, they cried out; a king, we must have a king!

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

et erimus nos quoque sicut omnes gentes: et judicabit nos rex noster, et egredietur ante nos, et pugnabit bella nostra pro nobis.

We must be like other nations, with a king to decide our quarrels, to lead us and be our champion in battle.

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

Et audivit Samuel omnia verba populi, et locutus est ea in auribus Domini.

So he listened to all this outcry of theirs, and brought it to the Lord’s hearing.

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

Dixit autem Dominus ad Samuelem: Audi vocem eorum, et constitue super eos regem. Et ait Samuel ad viros Israël: Vadat unusquisque in civitatem suam.

Give them their will, the Lord answered; appoint a king to rule over them. And Samuel bade the Israelites disperse, and go back to their homes.

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.