1 Samuel 8
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New International VersionNew American Standard Bible 1995
1When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as Israel's leaders.1And it came about when Samuel was old that he appointed his sons judges over Israel.
2The name of his firstborn was Joel and the name of his second was Abijah, and they served at Beersheba.2Now the name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judging in Beersheba.
3But his sons did not follow his ways. They turned aside after dishonest gain and accepted bribes and perverted justice.3His sons, however, did not walk in his ways, but turned aside after dishonest gain and took bribes and perverted justice.
4So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah.4Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah;
5They said to him, "You are old, and your sons do not follow your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have."5and they said to him, "Behold, you have grown old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint a king for us to judge us like all the nations."
6But when they said, "Give us a king to lead us," this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the LORD.6But the thing was displeasing in the sight of Samuel when they said, "Give us a king to judge us." And Samuel prayed to the LORD.
7And the LORD told him: "Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king.7The LORD said to Samuel, "Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them.
8As 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"Like all the deeds which they have done since the day that I brought them up from Egypt even to this day-- in that they have forsaken Me and served other gods-- so they are doing to you also.
9Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights."9"Now then, listen to their voice; however, you shall solemnly warn them and tell them of the procedure of the king who will reign over them."
10Samuel told all the words of the LORD to the people who were asking him for a king.10So Samuel spoke all the words of the LORD to the people who had asked of him a king.
11He said, "This is what the king who will reign over you will claim as his rights: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots.11He said, "This will be the procedure of the king who will reign over you: he will take your sons and place them for himself in his chariots and among his horsemen and they will run before his chariots.
12Some he will assign to be commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and others to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and still others to make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots.12"He will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and of fifties, and some to do his plowing and to reap his harvest and to make his weapons of war and equipment for his chariots.
13He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers.13"He will also take your daughters for perfumers and cooks and bakers.
14He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants.14"He will take the best of your fields and your vineyards and your olive groves and give them to his servants.
15He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants.15"He will take a tenth of your seed and of your vineyards and give to his officers and to his servants.
16Your male and female servants and the best of your cattle and donkeys he will take for his own use.16"He will also take your male servants and your female servants and your best young men and your donkeys and use them for his work.
17He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves.17"He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his servants.
18When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, but the LORD will not answer you in that day."18"Then you will cry out in that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the LORD will not answer you in that day."
19But the people refused to listen to Samuel. "No!" they said. "We want a king over us.19Nevertheless, the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel, and they said, "No, but there shall be a king over us,
20Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles."20that we also may be like all the nations, that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles."
21When Samuel heard all that the people said, he repeated it before the LORD.21Now after Samuel had heard all the words of the people, he repeated them in the LORD'S hearing.
22The LORD answered, "Listen to them and give them a king." Then Samuel said to the Israelites, "Everyone go back to your own town."22The LORD said to Samuel, "Listen to their voice and appoint them a king." So Samuel said to the men of Israel, "Go every man to his city."
New International Version (NIV)

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1 Samuel 7
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