| NET Bible | International Standard Version |
| 1In his old age Samuel appointed his sons as judges over Israel. | 1When Samuel became old, he appointed his sons judges over Israel. |
| 2The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second son was Abijah. They were judges in Beer Sheba. | 2The name of his firstborn son was Joel and the name of his second was Abijah. They were judges in Beer-sheba. |
| 3But his sons did not follow his ways. Instead, they made money dishonestly, accepted bribes, and perverted justice. | 3His sons did not follow Samuel's example. Instead, they pursued dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice. |
| 4So all the elders of Israel gathered together and approached Samuel at Ramah. | 4All the elders of Israel gathered together, and came to Samuel at Ramah. |
| 5They said to him, "Look, you are old, and your sons don't follow your ways. So now appoint over us a king to lead us, just like all the other nations have." | 5They told him, "Look, you're old, and your sons don't follow your example. So appoint a king to govern us like all the other nations." |
| 6But this request displeased Samuel, for they said, "Give us a king to lead us." So Samuel prayed to the LORD. | 6Samuel was displeased when they said, "Give us a king to govern us." So Samuel prayed to the LORD. |
| 7The LORD said to Samuel, "Do everything the people request of you. For it is not you that they have rejected, but it is me that they have rejected as their king. | 7The LORD told Samuel, "Listen to the people in all that they say to you. In fact, it's not you they have rejected, but rather they have rejected me from being their king. |
| 8Just as they have done from the day that I brought them up from Egypt until this very day, they have rejected me and have served other gods. This is what they are also doing to you. | 8Like all the things they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this very day, they have forsaken me and followed other gods. They're also doing the same thing to you. |
| 9So now do as they say. But seriously warn them and make them aware of the policies of the king who will rule over them." | 9Now, listen to them, but you are to clearly warn them and inform them about how the king who rules over them will operate." |
| 10So Samuel spoke all the words of the LORD to the people who were asking him for a king. | 10Samuel reported everything the LORD told him to the people who were asking him for a king. |
| 11He said, "Here are the policies of the king who will rule over you: He will conscript your sons and put them in his chariot forces and in his cavalry; they will run in front of his chariot. | 11He said, "This is how the king who rules over you will operate: He will conscript your sons and assign them to his chariots. He will conscript them as his horsemen, and they'll run in front of his chariots. |
| 12He will appoint for himself leaders of thousands and leaders of fifties, as well as those who plow his ground, reap his harvest, and make his weapons of war and his chariot equipment. | 12He will appoint his officers over thousands and officers over fifties—some will plow his fields, reap his harvest, and craft his war implements and equipment for his chariots. |
| 13He will take your daughters to be ointment makers, cooks, and bakers. | 13He will take your daughters for perfumers, cooks, and bakers. |
| 14He will take your best fields and vineyards and give them to his own servants. | 14He will take the best products of your fields, your vineyards, and your olive groves and give them to his servants. |
| 15He will demand a tenth of your seed and of the produce of your vineyards and give it to his administrators and his servants. | 15He will take a tenth of your seed and your vineyards and give it to his officers and servants. |
| 16He will take your male and female servants, as well as your best cattle and your donkeys, and assign them for his own use. | 16He will take your male and female servants, your best young men, and your donkeys to do his work. |
| 17He will demand a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will be his servants. | 17He will take a tenth of your flock, and you will become his servants. |
| 18In that day you will cry out because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the LORD won't answer you in that day." | 18When all of this comes about, you will cry out because of your king whom you chose for yourselves, but the LORD won't answer you at that time." |
| 19But the people refused to heed Samuel's warning. Instead they said, "No! There will be a king over us! | 19The people refused to listen to Samuel. Instead, they insisted, "No! Let a king rule over us instead! |
| 20We will be like all the other nations. Our king will judge us and lead us and fight our battles." | 20We, too, will be like all the nations! Our king will govern us and go out before us to fight our battles." |
| 21So Samuel listened to everything the people said and then reported it to the LORD. | 21So Samuel listened to all the words of the people, and he repeated them directly to the LORD. |
| 22The LORD said to Samuel, "Do as they say and install a king over them." Then Samuel said to the men of Israel, "Each of you go back to his own city." | 22The LORD told Samuel, "Listen to them, and appoint a king for them." Then Samuel told the men of Israel, "Each of you go to his own town." |
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