| New King James Version | International Standard Version |
| 1Now it came to pass when Samuel was old that he made his sons judges over Israel. | 1When Samuel became old, he appointed his sons judges over Israel. |
| 2The name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judges in Beersheba. | 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 walk in his ways; they turned aside after dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice. | 3His sons did not follow Samuel's example. Instead, they pursued dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice. |
| 4Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah, | 4All the elders of Israel gathered together, and came to Samuel at Ramah. |
| 5and said to him, “Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.” | 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 the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge 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. |
| 7And the LORD said to Samuel, “Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them. | 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. |
| 8According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt, even to this day—with which they have forsaken Me and served other gods—so they are doing to you also. | 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. |
| 9Now therefore, heed their voice. However, you shall solemnly forewarn them, and show them the behavior of the king who will reign 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 told all the words of the LORD to the people who asked him for a king. | 10Samuel reported everything the LORD told him to the people who were asking him for a king. |
| 11And he said, “This will be the behavior of the king who will reign over you: He will take your sons and appoint them for his own chariots and to be his horsemen, and some will run before his chariots. | 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 captains over his thousands and captains over his fifties, will set some to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and some to make his weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. | 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 perfumers, cooks, and bakers. | 13He will take your daughters for perfumers, cooks, and bakers. |
| 14And he will take the best of your fields, your vineyards, and your olive groves, and give them to his servants. | 14He will take the best products of your fields, your vineyards, and your olive groves and give them to his servants. |
| 15He will take a tenth of your grain and your vintage, and give it to his officers and servants. | 15He will take a tenth of your seed and your vineyards and give it to his officers and servants. |
| 16And he will take your male servants, your female servants, your finest young men, and your donkeys, and put them to his work. | 16He will take your male and female servants, your best young men, and your donkeys to do his work. |
| 17He will take a tenth of your sheep. And you will be his servants. | 17He will take a tenth of your flock, and you will become his servants. |
| 18And you will cry out in that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, and the LORD will not hear 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." |
| 19Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, “No, but we will have a king over us, | 19The people refused to listen to Samuel. Instead, they insisted, "No! Let a king rule over us instead! |
| 20that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before 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." |
| 21And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he repeated them in the hearing of the LORD. | 21So Samuel listened to all the words of the people, and he repeated them directly to the LORD. |
| 22So the LORD said to Samuel, “Heed their voice, and make them a king.” And Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Every man go to his 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." |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. |
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