They said to him, “You are old, and your sons do not follow your ways; now appoint a king(A) to lead[a](B) us, such as all the other nations(C) have.”

But when they said, “Give us a king(D) to lead us,” this displeased(E) Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord. And the Lord told him: “Listen(F) to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected,(G) but they have rejected me as their king.(H) As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking(I) me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know(J) what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights.”

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 8:5 Traditionally judge; also in verses 6 and 20

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