1 Samuel 8

All 22 verses in the Clear Bible Translation. Tap a verse to compare the KJV and read what it means.

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1. 1When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as judges over Israel.
2. 2His firstborn son was named Joel, and his second son was named Abijah. They served as judges in Beersheba.
3. 3But his sons did not walk in his ways. They turned aside after gain, took bribes, and perverted judgment.
4. 4So all the elders of Israel gathered together and went to Samuel at Ramah.
5. 5They told him, "Look, you're getting old, and your sons don't follow your ways. Appoint a king to judge us, like all the other nations have."
6. 6But Samuel was displeased when they said, "Give us a king to judge us." So he prayed to the LORD.
7. 7The LORD told Samuel, "Listen to everything the people are saying to you. They haven't rejected you, but they have rejected me, so that I should not reign over them."
8. 8According to all the deeds they have done since the day I brought them out of Egypt until now, they have forsaken me and served other gods, and they are doing the same to you.
9. 9So listen to their request, but protest solemnly to them and show them what the king who will reign over them will do.
10. 10Samuel told all the words of the LORD to the people who had asked him for a king.
11. 11He said, "This is what the king who will rule over you will do: He will take your sons and assign them to his chariots and as his horsemen; some will run in front of his chariots."
12. 12He will appoint captains over thousands and captains over fifties, and will have them plow his fields, reap his harvest, and make his instruments of war and chariot equipment.
13. 13He will take your daughters to be perfume makers, cooks, and bakers.
14. 14He'll seize your best fields, vineyards, and olive groves and hand them over to his officials.
15. 15He'll take a tenth of your grain and your grape harvest and give it to his officers and servants.
16. 16He'll take your male and female servants, your strongest young men, and your donkeys, and put them all to work for himself.
17. 17He'll take a tenth of your flocks. And you yourselves will become his servants.
18. 18On that day, you will cry out because of the king you have chosen for yourselves, but the LORD will not hear you then.
19. 19But the people refused to listen to Samuel. "No!" they said. "We want a king over us!
20. 20We want to be like all the other nations, with a king to judge us, lead us into battle, and fight our wars.
21. 21Samuel listened to everything the people said, then he repeated it all to the LORD.
22. 22The LORD told Samuel, "Listen to their voice and appoint them a king." Then Samuel said to the men of Israel, "Go back, each of you, to your own city."