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1 Samuel 8:4-11
New International Version
1 Samuel 8:4-11
New International Version
4 So all the elders(A) of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah.(B) 5 They said to him, “You are old, and your sons do not follow your ways; now appoint a king(C) to lead[a](D) us, such as all the other nations(E) have.”
6 But when they said, “Give us a king(F) to lead us,” this displeased(G) Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord. 7 And the Lord told him: “Listen(H) to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected,(I) but they have rejected me as their king.(J) 8 As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking(K) me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. 9 Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know(L) what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights.”
10 Samuel told(M) all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking him for a king. 11 He said, “This is what the king who will reign over you will claim as his rights: He will take(N) your sons and make them serve(O) with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots.(P)
Footnotes
- 1 Samuel 8:5 Traditionally judge; also in verses 6 and 20
1 Samuel 8:4-11
King James Version
1 Samuel 8:4-11
King James Version
4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah,
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.
6 But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the Lord.
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.
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.
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.
10 And Samuel told all the words of the Lord unto the people that asked of him a king.
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.
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1 Samuel 8:16-20
New International Version
1 Samuel 8:16-20
New International Version
16 Your male and female servants and the best of your cattle[a] and donkeys he will take for his own use. 17 He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. 18 When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, but the Lord will not answer(A) you in that day.(B)”
19 But the people refused(C) to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We want(D) a king(E) over us. 20 Then we will be like all the other nations,(F) with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.”
Footnotes
- 1 Samuel 8:16 Septuagint; Hebrew young men
1 Samuel 8:16-20
King James Version
1 Samuel 8:16-20
King James Version
16 And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work.
17 He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants.
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.
19 Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us;
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.
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New International Version (NIV) 
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