| New International Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 1When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as Israel's leaders. | 1When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as judges over Israel. |
| 2The name of his firstborn was Joel and the name of his second was Abijah, and they served at Beersheba. | 2The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second was Abijah. They were judges in Beersheba. |
| 3But his sons did not follow his ways. They turned aside after dishonest gain and accepted bribes and perverted justice. | 3But his sons did not walk in his ways; they turned aside toward dishonest gain, accepting bribes and perverting justice. |
| 4So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. | 4So 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." | 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.” |
| 6But when they said, "Give us a king to lead us," this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the LORD. | 6But 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. |
| 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. | 7And 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. |
| 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. | 8Just 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. |
| 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." | 9Now listen to them, but you must solemnly warn them and show them the manner 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 were asking him for 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 manner of the king who will reign over you: He will take your sons and appoint them to his own chariots and horses, to run in front of 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. | 12He will appoint some for himself as commanders of thousands and of fifties, and others to plow his ground, to reap his harvest, to make his weapons of war, and to equip his chariots. |
| 13He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. | 13And he will take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks, and bakers. |
| 14He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants. | 14He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and 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. | 15He will take a tenth of your grain and grape harvest and give it to his officials and servants. |
| 16Your male and female servants and the best of your cattle and donkeys he will take for his own use. | 16And he will take your menservants and maidservants and your best cattle and donkeys and put them to his own use. |
| 17He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. | 17He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. |
| 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." | 18When that day comes, you will beg for relief from the king you have chosen, but the LORD will not answer you on 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 Samuel. “No!” they said. “We must have 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." | 20Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to judge us, to go out before us, and to fight our battles.” |
| 21When Samuel heard all that the people said, he repeated it before the LORD. | 21Samuel listened to all the words of the people and repeated them in the hearing of the LORD. |
| 22The LORD answered, "Listen to them and give them a king." Then Samuel said to the Israelites, "Everyone go back to your own town." | 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.” |
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