1 Samuel 8

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

1 En su vejez Samuel se retiró y nombró jueces de Israel a sus hijos.

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

2 Joel, que era el primogénito, y Abías, que era el segundo, se establecieran como jueces en Berseba.

3 But his sons did not walk in his ways; they turned aside toward dishonest gain, accepting bribes and perverting justice.

3 Pero no eran como su padre, porque eran codiciosos. Aceptaban sobornos y se corrompían en la administración de la justicia.

4 So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah.

4 Entonces los jefes de Israel se reunieron en Ramá para discutir el asunto con Samuel.

5 “Look,” they said, “you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint a king to judge us like all the other nations.”

5 Le dijeron que desde que se había retirado las cosas no eran iguales, porque sus hijos no andaban por buen camino. «Danos un rey como las demás naciones lo tienen» —le rogaron.

6 But when they said, “Give us a king to judge us,” their demand was displeasing in the sight of Samuel; so he prayed to the LORD.

6 Esto puso a Samuel terriblemente molesto y fue a consultar al Señor.

7 And the LORD said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you. For it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected Me as their king.

7 «Haz lo que te piden —respondió el Señor—, porque no te están rechazando a ti sino a mí. Ellos no quieren que yo sea su rey.

8 Just as they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking Me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you.

8 Desde que los saqué de la tierra de Egipto, continuamente se han apartado de mí y han seguido a otros dioses. Ahora te dan a ti el mismo trato.

9 Now listen to their voice; but you must solemnly warn them and show them the manner of the king who will reign over them.”

9 Complácelos, pero adviérteles lo que significará tener un rey».

10 So Samuel spoke all the words of the LORD to the people who were asking him for a king.

10 Samuel le comunicó al pueblo lo que el Señor le había dicho:

11 He said, “This will be the manner of the king who will reign over you: He will take your sons and appoint them to serve his own chariots and horses, and to run in front of his chariots.

11 ―Si insisten en tener un rey, sepan lo que les espera; a algunos de los hijos de ustedes los tomará y los destinará a sus carros y a su caballería para que salgan delante de él a la guerra;

12 He will appoint some for himself as commanders of thousands and of fifties, and others to plow his ground, to reap his harvest, and to make his weapons of war and equipment for his chariots.

12 a otros los hará oficiales del ejército, y a otros los obligará a labrar los campos reales, a segar sus cosechas sin recibir pago, y a hacer armas y equipo bélico para sus carros.

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

13 Tomará las hijas de ustedes y las obligará a cocinar y a hacer perfumes para él.

14 He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his servants.

14 Tomará lo mejor de los campos, viñedos y olivares, y lo dará a sus amigos.

15 He will take a tenth of your grain and grape harvest and give it to his officials and servants.

15 Tomará la décima parte de la cosecha y la dará a sus funcionarios y cortesanos.

16 And he will take your menservants and maidservants and your best cattle and donkeys and put them to his own use.

16 Exigirá que le proporcionen esclavos y los mejores animales para su uso personal.

17 He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves.

17 Exigirá la décima parte del ganado y ustedes mismos serán sus esclavos.

18 When that day comes, you will beg for relief from the king you have chosen, but the LORD will not answer you on that day.”

18 Cuando llegue ese día, ustedes derramarán amargas lágrimas a causa del rey que piden hoy, pero el Señor no les ayudará.

19 Nevertheless, the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We must have a king over us.

19 Con todo, el pueblo no quiso oír la advertencia de Samuel. ―De todos modos, queremos un rey —le dijeron—.

20 Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to judge us, to go out before us, and to fight our battles.”

20 Queremos ser como las demás naciones que nos rodean. Él nos gobernará y nos conducirá a la batalla.

21 Samuel listened to all the words of the people and repeated them in the hearing of the LORD.

21 Samuel le comunicó al Señor lo que el pueblo había decidido,

22 “Listen to their voice,” the LORD said to Samuel. “Appoint a king for them.” Then Samuel told the men of Israel, “Everyone must go back to his city.”

22 y el Señor contestó: ―Haz lo que ellos dicen y dales un rey. Samuel, pues, les dio la respuesta afirmativa y los envió a sus casas.