Israel's Demand For A King
2 The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second son was Abijah. They were judges in Beer Sheba.
2 Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: they were judges in Beersheba.
2 Now the name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judging in (B)Beersheba.
2 The name of his firstborn son was Joel and the name of his second was Abijah. They were judges in Beer-sheba.
3 But his sons did not follow his ways. Instead, they made money dishonestly, accepted bribes, and perverted justice.
3 And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.
3 His sons, however, did not walk in his ways, but turned aside after dishonest gain and (C)took bribes and perverted justice.
3 However, his sons did not walk in his ways—they turned toward dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice.(C)
3 His sons did not follow Samuel's example. Instead, they pursued dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice.
5 They 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."
5 And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.
5 and they said to him, “Behold, you have grown old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now (E)appoint a king for us to judge us like all the nations.”
5 They said to him, “Look, you are old, and your sons do not follow your example. Therefore, appoint a king to judge us the same as all the other nations have.”(E)
5 They 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."
6 But this request displeased Samuel, for they said, "Give us a king to lead us." So Samuel prayed to the Lord.
6 But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD.
6 But the thing was (a)(F)displeasing in the sight of Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” And (G)Samuel prayed to the Lord.
6 When they said, “Give us a king to judge us,” Samuel considered their demand sinful, so he prayed to the Lord.
6 Samuel was displeased when they said, "Give us a king to govern us." So Samuel prayed to the LORD.
7 The 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.
7 And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.
7 The Lord said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for (H)they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them.
7 But the Lord told him, “Listen to the people and everything they say to you. They have not rejected you; they have rejected Me as their king.(F)
7 The 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.
8 Just 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.
8 According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee.
8 Like all the deeds which they have done since the day that I brought them up from Egypt even to this day—in that they have forsaken Me and served other gods—so they are doing to you also.
8 They are doing the same thing to you that they have done to Me,(a) since the day I brought them out of Egypt until this day, abandoning Me and worshiping other gods.
8 Like 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.
9 So now do as they say. But seriously warn them and make them aware of the policies of the king who will rule over them."
9 Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.
9 Now then, listen to their voice; (I)however, you shall solemnly (b)warn them and tell them of (J)the (c)procedure of the king who will reign over them.”
9 Listen to them, but you must solemnly warn them(G) and tell them about the rights of the king who will rule over them.”
9 Now, listen to them, but you are to clearly warn them and inform them about how the king who rules over them will operate."
Samuel's Warning Against Kings
10 So Samuel spoke all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking him for a king.
10 And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that asked of him a king.
10 Samuel told all the Lord’s words to the people who were asking him for a king.
10 Samuel reported everything the LORD told him to the people who were asking him for a king.
11 He 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.
11 And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots.
11 He said, “(L)This will be the (d)procedure of the king who will reign over you: (M)he will take your sons and place them for himself in his chariots and among his horsemen and (N)they will run before his chariots.
11 He said, “These are the rights of the king who will rule over you: He will take your sons and put them to his use in his chariots, on his horses, or running in front of his chariots.
11 He 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.
12 He 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.
12 And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots.
12 (O)He will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and of fifties, and some to (e)do his plowing and to reap his harvest and to make his weapons of war and equipment for his chariots.
12 He can appoint them for his use as commanders of thousands or commanders of fifties,(H) to plow his ground or reap his harvest, or to make his weapons of war or the equipment for his chariots.
12 He 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.
13 He will take your daughters to be ointment makers, cooks, and bakers.
13 And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers.
13 He will also take your daughters for perfumers and cooks and bakers.
13 He can take your daughters to become perfumers, cooks, and bakers.
13 He will take your daughters for perfumers, cooks, and bakers.
14 He will take your best fields and vineyards and give them to his own servants.
14 And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants.
14 (P)He will take the best of your fields and your vineyards and your olive groves and give them to his servants.
14 He will take the best products of your fields, your vineyards, and your olive groves and give them to his servants.
15 He will demand a tenth of your seed and of the produce of your vineyards and give it to his administrators and his servants.
15 And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants.
15 He will take a tenth of your seed and of your vineyards and give to his officers and to his servants.
15 He can take a tenth of your grain and your vineyards and give them to his officials and servants.
15 He will take a tenth of your seed and your vineyards and give it to his officers and servants.
16 He will take your male and female servants, as well as your best cattle and your donkeys, and assign them for his own use.
16 And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work.
16 He will also take your male servants and your female servants and your best young men and your donkeys and (f)use them for his work.
16 He can take your male servants, your female servants, your best young men,(b) and your donkeys and use them for his work.
16 He will take your male and female servants, your best young men, and your donkeys to do his work.
17 He will demand a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will be his servants.
17 He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants.
17 He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his servants.
17 He can take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves can become his servants.
17 He will take a tenth of your flock, and you will become his servants.
18 In 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."
18 And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not hear you in that day.
18 Then (Q)you will cry out in that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, but (R)the Lord will not answer you in that day.”
18 When that day comes, you will cry out because of the king you’ve chosen for yourselves,(J) but the Lord won’t answer you on that day.”(K)
18 When 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."
The Lord Grants Israel's Request
19 But the people refused to heed Samuel's warning. Instead they said, "No! There will be a king over us!
19 Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us;
19 Nevertheless, the people (S)refused to listen to the voice of Samuel, and they said, “No, but there shall be a king over us,
19 The people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We must have a king over us.
19 The people refused to listen to Samuel. Instead, they insisted, "No! Let a king rule over us instead!
20 We will be like all the other nations. Our king will judge us and lead us and fight our battles."
20 That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.
20 (T)that we also may be like all the nations, that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.”
20 Then we’ll be like all the other nations: our king will judge us, go out before us,(L) and fight our battles.”
20 We, too, will be like all the nations! Our king will govern us and go out before us to fight our battles."
21 So Samuel listened to everything the people said and then reported it to the Lord.
21 And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of the LORD.
21 Now after Samuel had heard all the words of the people, (U)he repeated them in the Lord’s hearing.
21 So Samuel listened to all the words of the people, and he repeated them directly to the LORD.
22 The 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."
22 And the LORD said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye every man unto his city.
22 The Lord said to Samuel, “(V)Listen to their voice and (g)appoint them a king.” So Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Go every man to his city.”
22 “Listen to them,” the Lord told Samuel. “Appoint a king for them.”(M)Then Samuel told the men of Israel, “Each of you, go back to your city.”
22 The 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."