Old/New Testament
7 And the men of Kiriath-jearim came and brought the ark of Yahweh up and (A)brought it into the house of Abinadab on the hill and set apart Eleazar his son as holy in order to keep the ark of Yahweh. 2 Now it happened from the day when the ark remained at Kiriath-jearim, that the time was long; it was twenty years. And all the house of Israel lamented after Yahweh.
Samuel Judges Israel
3 Then Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, “(B)If you are to return to Yahweh with all your heart, then (C)remove the foreign gods and the (D)Ashtaroth from among you and (E)set your hearts toward Yahweh and (F)serve Him alone; and He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.” 4 So the sons of Israel removed the Baals and the Ashtaroth and served Yahweh alone.
5 Then Samuel said, “Gather all Israel to (G)Mizpah, and (H)I will pray to Yahweh for you.” 6 And they gathered to Mizpah and drew water and (I)poured it out before Yahweh and (J)fasted on that day and said there, “(K)We have sinned against Yahweh.” And Samuel judged the sons of Israel at Mizpah.
7 Then the Philistines heard that the sons of Israel had gathered to Mizpah. And the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. Then the sons of Israel heard it and (L)were afraid of the Philistines. 8 So the sons of Israel said to Samuel, “(M)Do not cease to cry out to Yahweh our God for us, that He may save us from the hand of the Philistines.” 9 And Samuel took (N)a suckling lamb and offered it for a whole burnt offering to Yahweh; and Samuel cried out to Yahweh for Israel, and (O)Yahweh answered him. 10 Now Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, and the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel. But (P)Yahweh thundered with a great [a]thunder on that day against the Philistines and (Q)confused them, so that they were [b]defeated before Israel. 11 So the men of Israel went out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines and struck them down as far as below Beth-car.
12 Then Samuel (R)took a stone and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and he named it [c]Ebenezer. And he said, “Thus far Yahweh has helped us.” 13 (S)So the Philistines were subdued, and (T)they did not come anymore within the border of Israel. And the hand of Yahweh was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel. 14 And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even to Gath; and Israel delivered their territory from the hand of the Philistines. So there was peace between Israel and (U)the Amorites.
15 Thus Samuel (V)judged Israel all the days of his life. 16 And he used to go annually on circuit to (W)Bethel and (X)Gilgal and (Y)Mizpah, and he judged Israel in all these places. 17 But his return would be to (Z)Ramah, for his house was there, and there he judged Israel; and he (AA)built there an altar to Yahweh.
Israel Tells Samuel to Appoint a King
8 And it happened when Samuel was old that (AB)he appointed his sons judges over Israel. 2 The name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judging in (AC)Beersheba. 3 But his sons did not walk in his ways, but turned aside after greedy gain and (AD)took bribes and caused justice to turn aside.
4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at (AE)Ramah; 5 and they said to him, “Behold, you have grown old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now (AF)appoint a king for us to judge us like all the nations.” 6 But the thing was (AG)evil in the sight of Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” And (AH)Samuel prayed to Yahweh. 7 Then Yahweh said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for (AI)they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them. 8 Like all the deeds which they have done since the day that I brought them up from Egypt even to this day—in that they have forsaken Me and served other gods—so they are doing to you also. 9 So now, listen to their voice; (AJ)however, you shall solemnly [d]testify to them and tell them of (AK)the [e]custom of the king who will reign over them.”
The People Refuse Samuel’s Words
10 So Samuel spoke all the words of Yahweh to (AL)the people who had asked of him a king. 11 And he said, “(AM)This will be the [f]custom of the king who will reign over you: (AN)he will take your sons and appoint them for himself in his chariots and among his horsemen, and (AO)they will run before his chariots. 12 (AP)And he will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and of fifties, and some to [g]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 (AQ)He will take the best of your fields and your vineyards and your olive groves and give them to his [h]servants. 15 He will take a tenth of your seed and of your vineyards and give it to his officers and to his servants. 16 He will also take your male slaves and your female slaves and your best young men and your donkeys and [i]use them for his work. 17 He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. 18 Then (AR)you will cry out in that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, but (AS)Yahweh will not answer you in that day.”
19 Nevertheless, the people (AT)refused to listen to the voice of Samuel, and they said, “No, but there shall be a king over us, 20 (AU)that we also may be like all the nations, that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.” 21 So Samuel heard all the words of the people, and (AV)he repeated them in the hearing of Yahweh. 22 Then Yahweh said to Samuel, “(AW)Listen to their voice and [j]appoint them a king.” So Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Go every man to his city.”
Saul to Be Anointed Over Israel
9 Now there was a man of Benjamin whose name was (AX)Kish the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah, the son of a Benjamite, a mighty man of [k]valor. 2 Now he had a son whose name was Saul, a (AY)choice and handsome man, and there was not a more handsome person than he among the sons of Israel; (AZ)from his shoulders and up he was taller than any of the people.
3 Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul’s father, were lost. So Kish said to his son Saul, “Take now with you one of the young men, and arise, go search for the donkeys.” 4 Thus he passed through (BA)the hill country of Ephraim and passed through the land of (BB)Shalishah, but they did not find them. Then they passed through the land of (BC)Shaalim, but they were not there. Then he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they did not find them.
5 They came to the land of (BD)Zuph. And Saul said to his young man who was with him, “Come, and let us return, (BE)lest my father cease to be concerned about the donkeys and become anxious for us.” 6 But he said to him, “Behold now, there is (BF)a man of God in this city, and the man is held in honor; (BG)all that he says surely comes true. Now let us go there, (BH)perhaps he can tell us about our journey on which we have gone.” 7 Then Saul said to his young man, “But behold, if we go, what shall we bring the man? For the bread is gone from our sack, and there is (BI)no present to bring to the man of God. What do we have?” 8 And the young man answered Saul again and said, “Behold, I have in my hand a fourth of a [l]shekel of silver; I will give it to the man of God, and he will (BJ)tell us our way.” 9 (Formerly in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, he used to say, “Come, and let us go to the seer”; for he who is called a prophet now was formerly called (BK)a seer.) 10 Then Saul said to his young man, “Your word is good; come, let us go.” So they went to the city where the man of God was.
11 As they were going up the slope to the city, (BL)they found young women going out to draw water and said to them, “Is the seer here?” 12 And they answered them and said, “He is! Behold, he is ahead of you. Hurry now, for he has come into the city today, for (BM)the people have a sacrifice on (BN)the high place today. 13 As soon as you enter the city you will find him before he goes up to the high place to eat, for the people will not eat until he comes because (BO)he must bless the sacrifice; afterward those who are invited will eat. So now, go up for you will find him at once.” 14 So they went up to the city. As they came into the city, behold, Samuel was coming out to meet them to go up to the high place.
15 Now a day before Saul’s coming, (BP)Yahweh had revealed this in Samuel’s hearing, saying, 16 “About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin, and (BQ)you shall anoint him to be ruler over My people Israel; and he will save My people from the hand of the Philistines. For (BR)I have regarded My people because their cry has come to Me.” 17 Now Samuel saw Saul, and Yahweh answered him, “(BS)Behold, the man of whom I spoke to you! This one shall restrict My people.” 18 Then Saul approached Samuel in the gate and said, “Please tell me where the seer’s house is.” 19 And Samuel answered Saul and said, “I am the seer. Go up before me to the high place, for you shall eat with me today; and in the morning I will let you go and will tell you all that is on your heart. 20 (BT)As for your donkeys which were lost three days ago, do not set your heart on them, for they have been found. And (BU)for whom is all that is desirable in Israel? Is it not for you and for all your father’s household?” 21 And Saul answered and said, “(BV)Am I not a Benjamite, of (BW)the smallest of the tribes of Israel, and my family the least of all the families of the [m]tribe of Benjamin? Why then do you speak to me in this way?”
22 Then Samuel took Saul and his young man and brought them into the chamber and gave them a place at the head of those who were invited, who were about thirty men. 23 And Samuel said to the cook, “[n]Bring the portion that I gave you, concerning which I said to you, ‘Set it [o]aside.’” 24 Then the cook (BX)took up the leg with what was on it and set it before Saul. And Samuel said, “Here is what has been reserved! Set it before you and eat, because it has been kept for you until the appointed time, [p]since I said I have invited the people.” So Saul ate with Samuel that day.
25 Then they came down from the high place into the city, and Samuel spoke with Saul (BY)on the [q]roof. 26 And they arose early; and at the [r]breaking of dawn Samuel called to Saul on the roof, saying, “Get up, that I may send you away.” So Saul arose, and both he and Samuel went out into the street. 27 As they were going down to the edge of the city, Samuel said to Saul, “Say to the young man that he might pass before us and pass onwards, but you remain standing now, that I may cause you to hear the word of God.”
Peter Confesses Jesus Is the Christ
18 (A)And it happened that while He was (B)praying alone, the disciples were with Him, and He questioned them, saying, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” 19 And they answered and said, “John the Baptist, and others say Elijah, but others, that one of the prophets of old has risen again.” 20 And He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” And Peter answered and said, “(C)The [a]Christ of God.” 21 But He [b](D)warned them and directed them not to tell this to anyone, 22 (E)saying, “(F)The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed and be raised up on the third day.”
Take Up Your Cross
23 And He was saying to them all, “(G)If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. 24 For (H)whoever wishes to save his [c]life will lose it, but whoever loses his [d]life for My sake, he is the one who will save it. 25 For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and (I)loses or forfeits himself? 26 (J)For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory, and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. 27 But I say to you truthfully, (K)there are some of those standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.”
The Transfiguration
28 (L)Now it happened some eight days after these words, that taking along (M)Peter and John and James, He (N)went up on the mountain (O)to pray. 29 And it happened that while He was (P)praying, the appearance of His face (Q)became different, and His clothing became white and [e]gleaming. 30 And behold, two men were talking with Him, and they were Moses and Elijah, 31 who, appearing in [f]glory, were speaking of His [g](R)departure which He was about to fulfill at Jerusalem. 32 Now Peter and his companions (S)had been overcome with sleep, but when they were fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men standing with Him. 33 And it happened that as they were leaving Him, Peter said to Jesus, “(T)Master, it is good for us to be here; (U)let us make three [h]booths: one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—(V)not realizing what he was saying. 34 While he was saying this, a cloud [i]formed and began to overshadow them; and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35 Then (W)a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “(X)This is My Son, My Chosen One; listen to Him!” 36 And when the voice [j]had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And (Y)they kept silent, and reported to no one in those days any of the things which they had seen.
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