Parallel Bible results for "1 samuel 8"

1 Samuel 8

New Revised Standard NRS

1 When Samuel became old, he made his sons judges over Israel.

2 The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judges in Beer-sheba.

3 Yet his sons did not follow in his ways, but turned aside after gain; they took bribes and perverted justice.

4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah,

5 and said to him, "You are old and your sons do not follow in your ways; appoint for us, then, a king to govern us, like other nations."

6 But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, "Give us a king to govern us." Samuel prayed to the Lord,

7 and the Lord said to Samuel, "Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them.

8 Just as they have done to me, from the day I brought them up out of Egypt to this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so also they are doing to you.

9 Now then, listen to their voice; only—you shall solemnly warn them, and show them the ways of the king who shall reign over them."

10 So Samuel reported all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking him for a king.

11 He said, "These will be the ways of the king who will reign over you: he will take your sons and appoint them to his chariots and to be his horsemen, and to run before his chariots;

12 and he will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and some to plow his ground and to reap his harvest, and to make his implements of war and the equipment of his chariots.

13 He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers.

14 He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive orchards and give them to his courtiers.

15 He will take one-tenth of your grain and of your vineyards and give it to his officers and his courtiers.

16 He will take your male and female slaves, and the best of your cattle and donkeys, and put them to his work.

17 He will take one-tenth of your flocks, and you shall be his slaves.

18 And in that day you will cry out because of your king, whom you have chosen for yourselves; but the Lord will not answer you in that day."

19 But the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel; they said, "No! but we are determined to have a king over us,

20 so that we also may be like other nations, and that our king may govern us and go out before us and fight our battles."

21 When Samuel had heard all the words of the people, he repeated them in the ears of the Lord.

22 The Lord said to Samuel, "Listen to their voice and set a king over them." Samuel then said to the people of Israel, "Each of you return 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."