1 Samuel 8 (NET)

1 Samuel 8:1¹In his old age Samuel appointed his sons as judges over Israel.Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’sMany Bible Versions

1 Samuel 8:2²The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second son was Abijah. They were judges in Beer Sheba.Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’sMany Bible Versions

1 Samuel 8:3³But his sons did not follow his ways. Instead, they made money dishonestly, accepted bribes, and perverted justice.Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’sMany Bible Versions

1 Samuel 8:4⁴So all the elders of Israel gathered together and approached Samuel at Ramah.Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’sMany Bible Versions

1 Samuel 8:5⁵They said to him, “Look, you are old, and your sons don’t follow your ways. So now appoint over us a king to lead us, just like all the other nations have.”Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’sMany Bible Versions

1 Samuel 8:6⁶But this request displeased Samuel, for they said, “Give us a king to lead us.” So Samuel prayed to the Lord.Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’sMany Bible Versions

1 Samuel 8:7⁷The Lord said to Samuel, “Do everything the people request of you. For it is not you that they have rejected, but it is me that they have rejected as their king.Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’sMany Bible Versions

1 Samuel 8:8⁸Just as they have done from the day that I brought them up from Egypt until this very day, they have rejected me and have served other gods. This is what they are also doing to you.Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’sMany Bible Versions

1 Samuel 8:9⁹So now do as they say. But you must warn them and make them aware of the policies of the king who will rule over them.”Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’sMany Bible Versions

1 Samuel 8:10¹⁰So Samuel spoke all the Lord ’s words to the people who were asking him for a king.Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’sMany Bible Versions

1 Samuel 8:11¹¹He said, “Here are the policies of the king who will rule over you: He will conscript your sons and put them in his chariot forces and in his cavalry; they will run in front of his chariot.Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’sMany Bible Versions

1 Samuel 8:12¹²He will appoint for himself leaders of thousands and leaders of fifties, as well as those who plow his ground, reap his harvest, and make his weapons of war and his chariot equipment.Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’sMany Bible Versions

1 Samuel 8:13¹³He will take your daughters to be ointment makers, cooks, and bakers.Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’sMany Bible Versions

1 Samuel 8:14¹⁴He will take your best fields, vineyards, and olive groves, and give them to his own servants.Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’sMany Bible Versions

1 Samuel 8:15¹⁵He will demand a tenth of your seed and of the produce of your vineyards and give it to his administrators and his servants.Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’sMany Bible Versions

1 Samuel 8:16¹⁶He will take your male and female servants, as well as your best cattle and your donkeys, and assign them for his own use.Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’sMany Bible Versions

1 Samuel 8:17¹⁷He will demand a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will be his servants.Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’sMany Bible Versions

1 Samuel 8:18¹⁸In that day you will cry out because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the Lord won’t answer you in that day.”Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’sMany Bible Versions

1 Samuel 8:19¹⁹But the people refused to heed Samuel’s warning. Instead they said, “No! There will be a king over us!Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’sMany Bible Versions

1 Samuel 8:20²⁰We will be like all the other nations. Our king will judge us and lead us and fight our battles.”Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’sMany Bible Versions

1 Samuel 8:21²¹So Samuel listened to everything the people said and then reported it to the Lord.Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’sMany Bible Versions

1 Samuel 8:22²²The Lord said to Samuel, “Do as they say and install a king over them.” Then Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Each of you go back to his own city.”Copy LinkCopy VerseKJV+Strong’sMany Bible Versions