| [an error occurred while processing this directive] | New International Version |
| 1[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 1When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as Israel's leaders. |
| 2[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 2The name of his firstborn was Joel and the name of his second was Abijah, and they served at Beersheba. |
| 3[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 3But his sons did not follow his ways. They turned aside after dishonest gain and accepted bribes and perverted justice. |
| 4[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 4So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. |
| 5[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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." |
| 6[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 6But when they said, "Give us a king to lead us," this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the LORD. |
| 7[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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. |
| 8[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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. |
| 9[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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." |
| 10[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 10Samuel told all the words of the LORD to the people who were asking him for a king. |
| 11[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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. |
| 12[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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. |
| 13[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 13He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. |
| 14[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 14He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants. |
| 15[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 15He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants. |
| 16[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 16Your male and female servants and the best of your cattle and donkeys he will take for his own use. |
| 17[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 17He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. |
| 18[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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." |
| 19[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 19But the people refused to listen to Samuel. "No!" they said. "We want a king over us. |
| 20[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 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." |
| 21[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 21When Samuel heard all that the people said, he repeated it before the LORD. |
| 22[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 22The LORD answered, "Listen to them and give them a king." Then Samuel said to the Israelites, "Everyone go back to your own town." |
| [an error occurred while processing this directive] | New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
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