| Berean Study Bible | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as judges over Israel. | 1When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as judges over Israel. |
| 2The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second was Abijah. They were judges in Beersheba. | 2His firstborn son's name was Joel and his second was Abijah. They were judges in Beer-sheba. |
| 3But his sons did not walk in his ways; they turned aside toward dishonest gain, accepting bribes and perverting justice. | 3However, his sons did not walk in his ways--they turned toward dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice. |
| 4So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. | 4So all the elders of Israel gathered together and went to Samuel at Ramah. |
| 5“Look,” they said, “you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint a king to judge us like all the other nations.” | 5They said to him, "Look, you are old, and your sons do not follow your example. Therefore, appoint a king to judge us the same as all the other nations have." |
| 6But when they said, “Give us a king to judge us,” their demand was displeasing in the sight of Samuel; so he prayed to the LORD. | 6When they said, "Give us a king to judge us," Samuel considered their demand sinful, so he prayed to the LORD. |
| 7And the LORD said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you. For it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected Me as their king. | 7But the LORD told him, "Listen to the people and everything they say to you. They have not rejected you; they have rejected Me as their king. |
| 8Just as they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking Me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. | 8They are doing the same thing to you that they have done to Me, since the day I brought them out of Egypt until this day, abandoning Me and worshiping other gods. |
| 9Now listen to them, but you must solemnly warn them and show them the manner of the king who will reign over them.” | 9Listen to them, but you must solemnly warn them and tell them about the rights of the king who will rule over them." |
| 10So Samuel spoke all the words of the LORD to the people who were asking him for a king. | 10Samuel told all the LORD's words to the people who were asking him for a king. |
| 11He said, “This will be the manner of the king who will reign over you: He will take your sons and appoint them to his own chariots and horses, to run in front of his chariots. | 11He said, "These are the rights of the king who will rule over you: He will take your sons and put them to his use in his chariots, on his horses, or running in front of his chariots. |
| 12He will appoint some for himself as commanders of thousands and of fifties, and others to plow his ground, to reap his harvest, to make his weapons of war, and to equip his chariots. | 12He can appoint them for his use as commanders of thousands or commanders of fifties, to plow his ground or reap his harvest, or to make his weapons of war or the equipment for his chariots. |
| 13And he will take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks, and bakers. | 13He can take your daughters to become perfumers, cooks, and bakers. |
| 14He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his servants. | 14He can take your best fields, vineyards, and olive orchards and give them to his servants. |
| 15He will take a tenth of your grain and grape harvest and give it to his officials and servants. | 15He can take a tenth of your grain and your vineyards and give them to his officials and servants. |
| 16And he will take your menservants and maidservants and your best cattle and donkeys and put them to his own use. | 16He can take your male servants, your female servants, your best young men, and your donkeys and use them for his work. |
| 17He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. | 17He can take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves can become his servants. |
| 18When that day comes, you will beg for relief from the king you have chosen, but the LORD will not answer you on that day.” | 18When that day comes, you will cry out because of the king you've chosen for yourselves, but the LORD won't answer you on that day." |
| 19Nevertheless, the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We must have a king over us. | 19The people refused to listen to Samuel. "No!" they said. "We must have a king over us. |
| 20Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to judge us, to go out before us, and to fight our battles.” | 20Then we'll be like all the other nations: our king will judge us, go out before us, and fight our battles." |
| 21Samuel listened to all the words of the people and repeated them in the hearing of the LORD. | 21Samuel listened to all the people's words and then repeated them to the LORD. |
| 22“Listen to their voice,” the LORD said to Samuel. “Appoint a king for them.” Then Samuel told the men of Israel, “Everyone must go back to his city.” | 22"Listen to them," the LORD told Samuel. "Appoint a king for them." Then Samuel told the men of Israel, "Each of you, go back to your city." |
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