Font Size
1 Samuel 8:5-9
The Message
1 Samuel 8:5-9
The Message
4-5 Fed up, all the elders of Israel got together and confronted Samuel at Ramah. 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.
7-9 God answered Samuel, “Go ahead and do what they’re asking. They are not rejecting you. They’ve rejected me as their King. 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. 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.”
Read full chapter
1 Samuel 8:5-9
New International Version
1 Samuel 8:5-9
New International Version
5 They said to him, “You are old, and your sons do not follow your ways; now appoint a king(A) to lead[a](B) us, such as all the other nations(C) have.”
6 But when they said, “Give us a king(D) to lead us,” this displeased(E) Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord. 7 And the Lord told him: “Listen(F) to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected,(G) but they have rejected me as their king.(H) 8 As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking(I) me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. 9 Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know(J) what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights.”
Footnotes
- 1 Samuel 8:5 Traditionally judge; also in verses 6 and 20
1 Samuel 8:5-9
The Message
1 Samuel 8:5-9
The Message
4-5 Fed up, all the elders of Israel got together and confronted Samuel at Ramah. 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.
7-9 God answered Samuel, “Go ahead and do what they’re asking. They are not rejecting you. They’ve rejected me as their King. 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. 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.”
Read full chapter
1 Samuel 8:5-7
New International Version
1 Samuel 8:5-7
New International Version
5 They said to him, “You are old, and your sons do not follow your ways; now appoint a king(A) to lead[a](B) us, such as all the other nations(C) have.”
6 But when they said, “Give us a king(D) to lead us,” this displeased(E) Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord. 7 And the Lord told him: “Listen(F) to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected,(G) but they have rejected me as their king.(H)
Footnotes
- 1 Samuel 8:5 Traditionally judge; also in verses 6 and 20
The Message (MSG)
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.