The Complete Jewish Bible CJB
New Living Translation NLT
1 Sh'mu'el said to all Isra'el, "Here, I have done everything you asked me to do -I have made a king over you.
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Then Samuel addressed all Israel: “I have done as you asked and given you a king.
2 There is the king, walking ahead of you; but I am old and gray-headed. There are my sons with you, and I have walked at your head from when I was a boy until today.
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Your king is now your leader. I stand here before you—an old, gray-haired man—and my sons serve you. I have served as your leader from the time I was a boy to this very day.
3 So here I am; now is the time to witness against me before ADONAI and before his anointed king. Does any of you think I have taken your ox or donkey, defrauded or oppressed you, or accepted a bribe to deprive you of justice? Tell me, and I will restore it to you."
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Now testify against me in the presence of the LORD and before his anointed one. Whose ox or donkey have I stolen? Have I ever cheated any of you? Have I ever oppressed you? Have I ever taken a bribe and perverted justice? Tell me and I will make right whatever I have done wrong.”
4 They answered, "You haven't defrauded or oppressed us, and you have accepted nothing from anyone."
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“No,” they replied, “you have never cheated or oppressed us, and you have never taken even a single bribe.”
5 He said, "ADONAI is witness against you, and his anointed king is witness against you today, that you have found nothing in my hands?" They replied, "He is witness."
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“The LORD and his anointed one are my witnesses today,” Samuel declared, “that my hands are clean.” “Yes, he is a witness,” they replied.
6 Sh'mu'el said to the people, "It was ADONAI who appointed Moshe and Aharon and who brought your ancestors up from the land of Egypt.
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“It was the LORD who appointed Moses and Aaron,” Samuel continued. “He brought your ancestors out of the land of Egypt.
7 Now, hold still; because I am going to enter into judgment with you before ADONAI regarding all the righteous acts of ADONAI that he did for you and your ancestors.
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Now stand here quietly before the LORD as I remind you of all the great things the LORD has done for you and your ancestors.
8 "After Ya'akov had entered Egypt, your ancestors cried to ADONAI; and ADONAI sent Moshe and Aharon, who brought your ancestors out of Egypt and had them live here in this place.
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“When the Israelites were in Egypt and cried out to the LORD, he sent Moses and Aaron to rescue them from Egypt and to bring them into this land.
9 But they forgot ADONAI their God; so he handed them over to Sisra, commander of the army of Hatzor, and to the P'lishtim, and to the king of Mo'av; and they fought against them.
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But the people soon forgot about the LORD their God, so he handed them over to Sisera, the commander of Hazor’s army, and also to the Philistines and to the king of Moab, who fought against them.
10 But they cried to ADONAI and said, 'We sinned by abandoning ADONAI and serving the ba'alim and 'ashtarot. But now, if you rescue us from the power of our enemies, we will serve you.'
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“Then they cried to the LORD again and confessed, ‘We have sinned by turning away from the LORD and worshiping the images of Baal and Ashtoreth. But we will worship you and you alone if you will rescue us from our enemies.’
11 So ADONAI sent Yeruba'al, B'dan, Yiftach and Sh'mu'el and rescued you from the power of our enemies on every side, and you lived securely.
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Then the LORD sent Gideon, Bedan, Jephthah, and Samuel to save you, and you lived in safety.
12 When you saw that Nachash the king of the people of 'Amon was attacking you, you said to me, "No, we want a king to rule over us"- when ADONAI your God was your king.
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“But when you were afraid of Nahash, the king of Ammon, you came to me and said that you wanted a king to reign over you, even though the LORD your God was already your king.
13 Now, here's the king you have chosen, the one you asked for. See, ADONAI has put a king over you.
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All right, here is the king you have chosen. You asked for him, and the LORD has granted your request.
14 If you will fear ADONAI, serve him, obey what he says and not rebel against ADONAI's orders - if both you and the king ruling you remain followers of ADONAI your God - [then things will go well for you.]
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“Now if you fear and worship the LORD and listen to his voice, and if you do not rebel against the LORD ’s commands, then both you and your king will show that you recognize the LORD as your God.
15 But if you refuse to obey what ADONAI says and rebel against ADONAI's orders, then ADONAI will oppress both you and your leaders.
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But if you rebel against the LORD ’s commands and refuse to listen to him, then his hand will be as heavy upon you as it was upon your ancestors.
16 "Now therefore, hold still; and see the great deed which ADONAI will perform before your very eyes.
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“Now stand here and see the great thing the LORD is about to do.
17 Now is wheat harvest time, isn't it? I am going to call on ADONAI to send thunder and rain. Then you will understand and see how wicked from
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You know that it does not rain at this time of the year during the wheat harvest. I will ask the LORD to send thunder and rain today. Then you will realize how wicked you have been in asking the LORD for a king!”
18 Sh'mu'elADONAI's viewpoint is the thing you have done in asking for a king."called to ADONAI, and ADONAI sent thunder and rain that day. Then all the people became very much afraid of ADONAI and Sh'mu'el.
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So Samuel called to the LORD, and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day. And all the people were terrified of the LORD and of Samuel.
19 All the people said to Sh'mu'el, "Pray to ADONAI your God for your servants, so that we won't die; because to all our other sins now we've added this evil as well, asking for a king over us."
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“Pray to the LORD your God for us, or we will die!” they all said to Samuel. “For now we have added to our sins by asking for a king.”
20 Sh'mu'el answered the people, "Don't be afraid. You have indeed done all this evil; yet now, just don't turn away from following ADONAI; but serve ADONAI with all your heart.
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“Don’t be afraid,” Samuel reassured them. “You have certainly done wrong, but make sure now that you worship the LORD with all your heart, and don’t turn your back on him.
21 Don't turn to the side; because then you would go after useless things that can neither help nor rescue, they are so futile.
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Don’t go back to worshiping worthless idols that cannot help or rescue you—they are totally useless!
22 For the sake of his great reputation, ADONAI will not abandon his people; because it has pleased ADONAI to make you a people for himself.
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The LORD will not abandon his people, because that would dishonor his great name. For it has pleased the LORD to make you his very own people.
23 As for me, far be it from me to sin against ADONAI by ceasing to pray for you! Rather, I will continue instructing you in the good and right way.
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“As for me, I will certainly not sin against the LORD by ending my prayers for you. And I will continue to teach you what is good and right.
24 Only fear ADONAI, and serve him faithfully with all your heart; for think what great things he has done for you!
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But be sure to fear the LORD and faithfully serve him. Think of all the wonderful things he has done for you.
25 However, if you insist on doing wicked things, you will be swept away - both you and your king!"
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But if you continue to sin, you and your king will be swept away.”
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by
Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.