11 He said, “(A)This will be the [a]procedure of the king who will reign over you: (B)he will take your sons and place them for himself in his chariots and among his horsemen and (C)they will run before his chariots. 12 (D)He will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and of fifties, and some to [b]do his plowing and to reap his harvest and to make his weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. 13 He will also take your daughters for perfumers and cooks and bakers. 14 (E)He will take the best of your fields and your vineyards and your olive groves and give them to his servants. 15 He will take a tenth of your seed and of your vineyards and give to his officers and to his servants. 16 He will also take your male servants and your female servants and your best young men and your donkeys and [c]use them for his work. 17 He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his servants. 18 Then (F)you will cry out in that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, but (G)the Lord will not answer you in that day.”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 8:11 Lit custom
  2. 1 Samuel 8:12 Lit plow his plowing
  3. 1 Samuel 8:16 Lit make

25 Then Samuel told the people (A)the ordinances of the kingdom, and wrote them in the book and (B)placed it before the Lord. And Samuel sent all the people away, each one to his house.

Read full chapter