Parallel Bible results for "1 samuel 8"

1 Samuel 8

New Living Translation NLT

1 As Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons to be judges over Israel.

2 Joel and Abijah, his oldest sons, held court in Beersheba.

3 But they were not like their father, for they were greedy for money. They accepted bribes and perverted justice.

4 Finally, all the elders of Israel met at Ramah to discuss the matter with Samuel.

5 “Look,” they told him, “you are now old, and your sons are not like you. Give us a king to judge us like all the other nations have.”

6 Samuel was displeased with their request and went to the LORD for guidance.

7 “Do everything they say to you,” the LORD replied, “for they are rejecting me, not you. They don’t want me to be their king any longer.

8 Ever since I brought them from Egypt they have continually abandoned me and followed other gods. And now they are giving you the same treatment.

9 Do as they ask, but solemnly warn them about the way a king will reign over them.”

10 So Samuel passed on the LORD ’s warning to the people who were asking him for a king.

11 “This is how a king will reign over you,” Samuel said. “The king will draft your sons and assign them to his chariots and his charioteers, making them run before his chariots.

12 Some will be generals and captains in his army, some will be forced to plow in his fields and harvest his crops, and some will make his weapons and chariot equipment.

13 The king will take your daughters from you and force them to cook and bake and make perfumes for him.

14 He will take away the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his own officials.

15 He will take a tenth of your grain and your grape harvest and distribute it among his officers and attendants.

16 He will take your male and female slaves and demand the finest of your cattle and donkeys for his own use.

17 He will demand a tenth of your flocks, and you will be his slaves.

18 When that day comes, you will beg for relief from this king you are demanding, but then the LORD will not help you.”

19 But the people refused to listen to Samuel’s warning. “Even so, we still want a king,” they said.

20 “We want to be like the nations around us. Our king will judge us and lead us into battle.”

21 So Samuel repeated to the LORD what the people had said,

22 and the LORD replied, “Do as they say, and give them a king.” Then Samuel agreed and sent the people home.

The Message Bible MSG

1 When Samuel got to be an old man, he set his sons up as judges in Israel.

2 His firstborn son was named Joel, the name of his second, Abijah. They were assigned duty in Beersheba.

3 But his sons didn't take after him; they were out for what they could get for themselves, taking bribes, corrupting justice.

4 Fed up, all the elders of Israel got together and confronted Samuel at Ramah.

5 They presented their case: "Look, you're an old man, and your sons aren't following in your footsteps. Here's what we want you to do: Appoint a king to rule us, just like everybody else."

6 When Samuel heard their demand - "Give us a king to rule us!" - he was crushed. How awful! Samuel prayed to God.

7 God answered Samuel, "Go ahead and do what they're asking. They are not rejecting you. They've rejected me as their King.

8 From the day I brought them out of Egypt until this very day they've been behaving like this, leaving me for other gods. And now they're doing it to you.

9 So let them have their own way. But warn them of what they're in for. Tell them the way kings operate, just what they're likely to get from a king."

10 So Samuel told them, delivered God's warning to the people who were asking him to give them a king.

11 He said, "This is the way the kind of king you're talking about operates. He'll take your sons and make soldiers of them - chariotry, cavalry, infantry,

12 regimented in battalions and squadrons. He'll put some to forced labor on his farms, plowing and harvesting, and others to making either weapons of war or chariots in which he can ride in luxury.

13 He'll put your daughters to work as beauticians and waitresses and cooks.

14 He'll conscript your best fields, vineyards, and orchards and hand them over to his special friends.

15 He'll tax your harvests and vintage to support his extensive bureaucracy.

16 Your prize workers and best animals he'll take for his own use.

17 He'll lay a tax on your flocks and you'll end up no better than slaves.

18 The day will come when you will cry in desperation because of this king you so much want for yourselves. But don't expect God to answer."

19 But the people wouldn't listen to Samuel. "No!" they said. "We will have a king to rule us!

20 Then we'll be just like all the other nations. Our king will rule us and lead us and fight our battles."

21 Samuel took in what they said and rehearsed it with God.

22 God told Samuel, "Do what they say. Make them a king." Then Samuel dismissed the men of Israel: "Go home, each of you to your own city."