| Holman Christian Standard Bible | NET Bible |
| 1When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as judges over Israel. | 1In his old age Samuel appointed his sons as judges over Israel. |
| 2His firstborn son's name was Joel and his second was Abijah. They were judges in Beer-sheba. | 2The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second son was Abijah. They were judges in Beer Sheba. |
| 3However, his sons did not walk in his ways--they turned toward 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. |
| 4So all the elders of Israel gathered together and went to Samuel at Ramah. | 4So all the elders of Israel gathered together and approached Samuel at Ramah. |
| 5They 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." | 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." |
| 6When they said, "Give us a king to judge us," Samuel considered their demand sinful, so he 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. |
| 7But 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. | 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. |
| 8They are doing the same thing to you that they have done to Me, since the day I brought them out of Egypt until this day, abandoning Me and worshiping other gods. | 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. |
| 9Listen to them, but you must solemnly warn them and tell them about the rights of the king who will rule 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." |
| 10Samuel told all the LORD's words 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, "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. | 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 can appoint them for his use as commanders of thousands or commanders of fifties, to plow his ground or reap his harvest, or to make his weapons of war or the 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 can take your daughters to become perfumers, cooks, and bakers. | 13He will take your daughters to be ointment makers, cooks, and bakers. |
| 14He can take your best fields, vineyards, and olive orchards and give them to his servants. | 14He will take your best fields and vineyards and give them to his own servants. |
| 15He can take a tenth of your grain and your vineyards and give them to his officials 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. |
| 16He can take your male servants, your female servants, your best young men, and your donkeys and use them for 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 can take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves can become his servants. | 17He will demand a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will be his servants. |
| 18When that day comes, you will cry out because of the king you've chosen for yourselves, but the LORD won't answer you on 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." |
| 19The people refused to listen to Samuel. "No!" they said. "We must 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! |
| 20Then we'll be like all the other nations: our king will judge us, 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." |
| 21Samuel listened to all the people's words and then repeated them to the LORD. | 21So Samuel listened to everything the people said and then reported it to the LORD. |
| 22"Listen to them," the LORD told Samuel. "Appoint a king for them." Then Samuel told the men of Israel, "Each of you, go back to your 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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