1 Samuel 8 – search, read, and compare multiple versions of the Bible
World English Bible Classic
[1] When Samuel was old, he made his sons judges over Israel. [2] Now the name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah. They were judges in Beersheba. [3] His sons didn’t walk in his ways, but turned away after dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice. [4] Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together and came to Samuel to Ramah. [5] They said to him, “Behold, you are old, and your sons don’t walk in your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.” [6] But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.”Samuel prayed to Yahweh. [7] Yahweh said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in all that they tell you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me as the king over them. [8] According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, in that they have forsaken me and served other gods, so they also do to you. [9] Now therefore, listen to their voice. However, you shall protest solemnly to them, and shall show them the way of the king who will reign over them.” [10] Samuel told all Yahweh’s words to the people who asked him for a king. [11] He said, “This will be the way of the king who shall reign over you: he will take your sons and appoint them as his servants, for his chariots and to be his horsemen; and they will run before his chariots. [12] He will appoint them to him for captains of thousands and captains of fifties; and he will assign some to plow his ground and to reap his harvest; and to make his instruments of war and the instruments of his chariots. [13] He will take your daughters to be perfumers, to be cooks, and to be bakers. [14] He will take your fields, your vineyards, and your olive groves, even your best, and give them to his servants. [15] He will take one tenth of your seed and of your vineyards, and give it to his officers and to his servants. [16] He will take your male servants, your female servants, your best young men, and your donkeys, and assign them to his own work. [17] He will take one tenth of your flocks; and you will be his servants. [18] You will cry out in that day because of your king whom you will have chosen for yourselves; and Yahweh will not answer you in that day.” [19] But the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel; and they said, “No, but we will have a king over us, [20] that we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.” [21] Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of Yahweh. [22] Yahweh said to Samuel, “Listen to their voice, and make them a king.”Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Everyone go to your own city.”
King James Version
Demand for a King
[1] And it came to pass, when Samuel H8050 was old, H2204 (QalPerf) that he made H7760 (QalImpf) his sons H1121 judges H8199 (QalActPtc) over Israel. H3478 [2] Now the name H8034 of his firstborn H1121 was Joel; H3100 and the name H8034 of his second, H4932 Abiah: H29 they were judges H8199 (QalActPtc) in Beer-sheba. H884 [3] And his sons H1121 walked H1980 (QalPerf) not in his ways, H1870 but turned aside H5186 (QalImpf) after H310 lucre, H1215 and took H3947 (QalImpf) bribes, H7810 and perverted H5186 (HiphImpf) judgment. H4941 [4] Then all the elders H2205 of Israel H3478 gathered themselves together, H6908 (HithImpf) and came H935 (QalImpf) to Samuel H8050 unto Ramah, H7414 [5] and said H559 (QalImpf) unto him, Behold, thou art old, H2204 (QalPerf) and thy sons H1121 walk H1980 (QalPerf) not in thy ways: H1870 now make H7760 (QalImpv) us a king H4428 to judge H8199 (QalInf) us like all the nations. H1471 [6] But the thing H1697 displeased H3415 (QalImpf) Samuel, H8050§ when they said, H559 (QalPerf) Give H5414 (QalImpv) us a king H4428 to judge H8199 (QalInf) us. And Samuel H8050 prayed H6419 (HithImpf) unto the Lord. H3068 [7] And the Lord H3068 said H559 (QalImpf) unto Samuel, H8050 Hearken H8085 (QalImpv) unto the voice H6963 of the people H5971 in all that they say H559 (QalImpf) unto thee: for they have not rejected H3988 (QalPerf) thee, but they have rejected H3988 (QalPerf) me, that I should not reign H4427 (QalInf) over them. [8] According to all the works H4639 which they have done H6213 (QalPerf) since the day H3117 that I brought them up H5927 (HiphInf) out of Egypt H4714 even unto this day, H3117 wherewith they have forsaken H5800 (QalImpf) me, and served H5647 (QalImpf) other H312 gods, H430 so do H6213 (QalActPtc) they also unto thee. [9] Now therefore hearken H8085 (QalImpv)§ unto their voice: H6963 howbeit H389 yet protest H5749 (HiphImpf) solemnly H5749 (HiphInf) unto them, and shew H5046 (HiphPerf) them the manner H4941 of the king H4428 that shall reign H4427 (QalImpf) over them. [10] And Samuel H8050 told H559 (QalImpf) all the words H1697 of the Lord H3068 unto the people H5971 that asked H7592 (QalActPtc) of him a king. H4428 [11] And he said, H559 (QalImpf) This will be the manner H4941 of the king H4428 that shall reign H4427 (QalImpf) over you: He will take H3947 (QalImpf) your sons, H1121 and appoint H7760 (QalPerf) them for himself, for his chariots, H4818 and to be his horsemen; H6571 and some shall run H7323 (QalPerf) before H6440 his chariots. H4818 [12] And he will appoint H7760 (QalInf) him captains H8269 over thousands, H505 and captains H8269 over fifties; H2572 and will set them to ear H2790 (QalInf) his ground, H2758 and to reap H7114 (QalInf) his harvest, H7105 and to make H6213 (QalInf) his instruments H3627 of war, H4421 and instruments H3627 of his chariots. H7393 [13] And he will take H3947 (QalImpf) your daughters H1323 to be confectionaries, H7548 and to be cooks, H2879 and to be bakers. H644 (QalActPtc) [14] And he will take H3947 (QalImpf) your fields, H7704 and your vineyards, H3754 and your oliveyards, H2132 even the best H2896 of them, and give H5414 (QalPerf) them to his servants. H5650 [15] And he will take the tenth H6237 (QalImpf) of your seed, H2233 and of your vineyards, H3754 and give H5414 (QalPerf) to his officers, H5631§ and to his servants. H5650 [16] And he will take H3947 (QalImpf) your menservants, H5650 and your maidservants, H8198 and your goodliest H2896 young men, H970 and your asses, H2543 and put H6213 (QalPerf) them to his work. H4399 [17] He will take the tenth H6237 (QalImpf) of your sheep: H6629 and ye shall be his servants. H5650 [18] And ye shall cry out H2199 (QalPerf) in that day H3117 because H6440 of your king H4428 which ye shall have chosen H977 (QalPerf) you; and the Lord H3068 will not hear H6030 (QalImpf) you in that day. H3117 [19] Nevertheless the people H5971 refused H3985 (PielImpf) to obey H8085 (QalInf) the voice H6963 of Samuel; H8050 and they said, H559 (QalImpf) Nay; but we will have a king H4428 over us; [20] that we also may be like all the nations; H1471 and that our king H4428 may judge H8199 (QalPerf) us, and go out H3318 (QalPerf) before H6440 us, and fight H3898 (NiphPerf) our battles. H4421 [21] And Samuel H8050 heard H8085 (QalImpf) all the words H1697 of the people, H5971 and he rehearsed H1696 (PielImpf) them in the ears H241 of the Lord. H3068 [22] And the Lord H3068 said H559 (QalImpf) to Samuel, H8050 Hearken H8085 (QalImpv) unto their voice, H6963 and make H4427 (HiphPerf) them a king. H4428 And Samuel H8050 said H559 (QalImpf) unto the men H582 of Israel, H3478 Go H3212 (QalImpv) ye every man H376 unto his city. H5892Footnotes
- § 8:6 Heb. was evil in the eyes of Samuel
- § 8:9 Or, obey
- § 8:15 Heb. eunuchs
Byzantine Greek New Testament
No content available.