| New King James Version | NET Bible |
| 1Now it came to pass when Samuel was old that he made his sons judges over Israel. | 1In his old age Samuel appointed his sons as 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 son 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. | 3But his sons did not follow his ways. Instead, they made money dishonestly, accepted bribes, and perverted justice. |
| 4Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah, | 4So all the elders of Israel gathered together and approached 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 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." |
| 6But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” So Samuel prayed to the LORD. | 6But this request displeased Samuel, for they said, "Give us a king to lead 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 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 9Now therefore, heed their voice. However, you shall solemnly forewarn them, and show them the behavior of the king who will reign over them.” | 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." |
| 10So Samuel told all the words of the LORD to the people who asked him for a king. | 10So Samuel spoke all the words of the LORD 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, "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. |
| 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 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. |
| 13He will take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks, and bakers. | 13He will take your daughters to be ointment makers, 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 your best fields and vineyards and give them to his own servants. |
| 15He will take a tenth of your grain and your vintage, and give it to his officers and 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. |
| 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, as well as your best cattle and your donkeys, and assign them for his own use. |
| 17He will take a tenth of your sheep. And you will be his servants. | 17He will demand a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will be 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.” | 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." |
| 19Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, “No, but we will have a king over us, | 19But the people refused to heed Samuel's warning. Instead they said, "No! There will be a king over us! |
| 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 will be like all the other nations. Our king will judge us and lead us and 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 everything the people said and then reported it 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 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." |
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