Samuel

12And the people said unto Samuel, Who is he that said, Shall Saul reign over us? bring the men, that we may put them to death.

Then the people said to Samuel, "Who was it that said Saul should not be our king? Bring those men here. We will put them to death."

13And Saul said, There shall not a man be put to death this day: for to day the LORD hath wrought salvation in Israel.

But Saul said, "No one will be put to death today. Today the LORD has saved Israel."

14Then said Samuel to the people, Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there.

Then Samuel said to the people, "Come with me to the town of Gilgal. There we will start Saul's rule again."

15And all the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul king before the LORD in Gilgal; and there they sacrificed sacrifices of peace offerings before the LORD; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.

So all the people went to Gilgal. There they made Saul king before the LORD. They gave peace offerings to the LORD, which are gifts of animals shared in a happy meal. Saul and all the men of Israel were full of joy.

1And Samuel said unto all Israel, Behold, I have hearkened unto your voice in all that ye said unto me, and have made a king over you.

Samuel spoke to all the people of Israel. He said, "I listened to everything you asked of me. I have given you a king."

2And now, behold, the king walketh before you: and I am old and grayheaded; and, behold, my sons are with you: and I have walked before you from my childhood unto this day.

"Now your king leads you. I am old, and my hair is gray. My sons are here among you. I have led you since I was a boy."

3Behold, here I am: witness against me before the LORD, and before his anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it you.

"Here I am. Speak out now, in front of God and in front of the king. Did I ever take anyone's ox or donkey? Did I cheat anyone or treat anyone badly? Did I ever take money to look away from wrong? If I did, I will pay it all back."

4And they said, Thou hast not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither hast thou taken ought of any man’s hand.

The people answered, "You never cheated us. You never treated us badly. You never took anything from anyone."

5And he said unto them, The LORD is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that ye have not found ought in my hand. And they answered, He is witness.

Samuel said, "God has seen this today, and so has the king. You found nothing wrong in my hands." The people said, "Yes, God has seen it."

6And Samuel said unto the people, It is the LORD that advanced Moses and Aaron, and that brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt.

Then Samuel said to the people, "It was God who chose Moses and Aaron. He brought your families out of the land of Egypt."

7Now therefore stand still, that I may reason with you before the LORD of all the righteous acts of the LORD, which he did to you and to your fathers.

"Now stand still. I want to talk this over with you in front of God. I will name all the good and right things God did for you and your families."

8When Jacob was come into Egypt, and your fathers cried unto the LORD, then the LORD sent Moses and Aaron, which brought forth your fathers out of Egypt, and made them dwell in this place.

"Jacob and his family went to Egypt. Later your families cried out to God for help. God sent Moses and Aaron. They led your families out of Egypt. God settled them here in this land."

9And when they forgat the LORD their God, he sold them into the hand of Sisera, captain of the host of Hazor, and into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab, and they fought against them.

"But your families forgot God. So he handed them over to their enemies. Sisera, the army leader from Hazor, fought them. The Philistines fought them. The king of Moab fought them too."

10And they cried unto the LORD, and said, We have sinned, because we have forsaken the LORD, and have served Baalim and Ashtaroth: but now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, and we will serve thee.

"Then they cried out to God. They said, 'We have done wrong. We left you and served Baal and Ashtoreth, gods that are not real. Save us from our enemies, and we will serve you.'"

11And the LORD sent Jerubbaal, and Bedan, and Jephthah, and Samuel, and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side, and ye dwelled safe.

"So God sent Jerubbaal, Bedan, Jephthah, and Samuel. God saved you from your enemies all around. You lived in your land safely."

12And when ye saw that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon came against you, ye said unto me, Nay; but a king shall reign over us: when the LORD your God was your king.

"Then Nahash, king of the Ammonites, came to fight you. You said to me, 'No. We want a king to rule us.' But God was already your king."

13Now therefore behold the king whom ye have chosen, and whom ye have desired! and, behold, the LORD hath set a king over you.

"So here is the king you picked. He is the one you asked for. Look, God has given you a king."

14If ye will fear the LORD, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall both ye and also the king that reigneth over you continue following the LORD your God:

"Respect God. Serve him. Do what he says. Do not turn against his commands. If you and your king keep following God, things will go well."

15But if ye will not obey the voice of the LORD, but rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall the hand of the LORD be against you, as it was against your fathers.

"But if you will not obey God, and you turn against his commands, God will be against you. He was against your families long ago too."

16Now therefore stand and see this great thing, which the LORD will do before your eyes.

"Now stand still and watch. God is going to do something great right in front of your eyes."

17Is it not wheat harvest to day? I will call unto the LORD, and he shall send thunder and rain; that ye may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which ye have done in the sight of the LORD, in asking you a king.

"This is the time when the wheat is being cut, isn't it? I will call to God, and he will send thunder and rain. Then you will see how wrong it was to ask for a king."

18So Samuel called unto the LORD; and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day: and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel.

So Samuel called to God. That same day God sent thunder and rain. All the people were very afraid of God and of Samuel.

19And all the people said unto Samuel, Pray for thy servants unto the LORD thy God, that we die not: for we have added unto all our sins this evil, to ask us a king.

The people said to Samuel, "Please pray to your God for us, so we will not die. We added one more wrong to all our others. We asked for a king."

20And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not: ye have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart;

Samuel said to them, "Do not be afraid. You did do all this wrong. But do not turn away from God now. Serve God with your whole heart."

21And turn ye not aside: for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain.

"Do not turn away to follow things that are worth nothing. They cannot help you. They cannot save you. They are empty."

22For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name’s sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people.

"God will not walk away from his people. His own great name is at stake. He was glad to make you his people."

23Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:

"As for me, I will not stop praying for you. Stopping would be a sin against God. I will keep teaching you the good and right way."

24Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you.

"Most of all, respect God. Serve him truly, with your whole heart. Think about the great things he has done for you."

25But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both ye and your king.

"But if you keep doing evil, you will be swept away. Your king will be swept away too."

8And he tarried seven days, according to the set time that Samuel had appointed: but Samuel came not to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him.

Saul waited seven days. That was the time Samuel had set. Samuel was a prophet, someone who told people what God said. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal. Saul's men began to slip away.

9And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering.

So Saul said, "Bring me the burnt offering and the peace offerings." These were gifts to God, animals burned on an altar. Then Saul gave the burnt offering himself.

10And it came to pass, that as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might salute him.

Just as Saul finished the offering, Samuel arrived. Saul went out to say hello to him.

11And Samuel said, What hast thou done? And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that thou camest not within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash;

Samuel asked, "What have you done?" Saul said, "I saw my men leaving me. You did not come when you said you would. And the Philistines were gathering at Michmash."

12Therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the LORD: I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering.

"I thought, the Philistines will come down and attack me here at Gilgal. And I have not yet asked the LORD for help. So I made myself do it. I gave the burnt offering."

13And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever.

Samuel said to Saul, "That was a foolish thing to do. You did not obey what the LORD your God told you. If you had obeyed, God would have kept your family as kings forever."

14But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee.

"But now your rule will not last. The LORD has looked for a man who pleases his own heart. He has chosen that man to lead his people. This is because you did not obey the LORD."

15And Samuel arose, and gat him up from Gilgal unto Gibeah of Benjamin. And Saul numbered the people that were present with him, about six hundred men.

Then Samuel got up and left Gilgal. He went to Gibeah in the land of Benjamin. Saul counted the men who were still with him. There were about six hundred.

1Samuel also said unto Saul, The LORD sent me to anoint thee to be king over his people, over Israel: now therefore hearken thou unto the voice of the words of the LORD.

Samuel was a prophet, a man who told people what God said. He said to Saul, "The LORD sent me to pour oil on your head. That made you king over Israel, God's people. So now listen to what the LORD tells you."

2Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt.

"The LORD, who rules over armies, says this: I remember what the Amalekites did. They hid and attacked Israel on the road up from Egypt."

3Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.

"Now go and attack the Amalekites. Destroy everything they have. Do not let anyone go. Put to death men and women, children and babies. Kill their cattle and sheep, their camels and donkeys."

4And Saul gathered the people together, and numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand footmen, and ten thousand men of Judah.

So Saul called his soldiers together. He counted them at a place called Telaim. There were 200,000 men on foot, and 10,000 more men from Judah.

5And Saul came to a city of Amalek, and laid wait in the valley.

Saul came to a city of the Amalekites. He waited quietly in the valley, ready to attack.

6And Saul said unto the Kenites, Go, depart, get you down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them: for ye shewed kindness to all the children of Israel, when they came up out of Egypt. So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites.

Saul sent word to the Kenites, another group of people. He said, "Move away from the Amalekites, or I will destroy you with them. You were kind to Israel when they came out of Egypt." So the Kenites moved away.

7And Saul smote the Amalekites from Havilah until thou comest to Shur, that is over against Egypt.

Then Saul attacked the Amalekites. He fought them from Havilah all the way to Shur, near Egypt.

8And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword.

He caught Agag, the king of the Amalekites, alive. He put all the other people to death with the sword.

9But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but every thing that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.

But Saul and his men let Agag live. They also kept the best sheep and cattle, the fat calves and the lambs. They kept everything that was good. They only destroyed what was weak and worth nothing.

10Then came the word of the LORD unto Samuel, saying,

Then the LORD spoke to Samuel. He said:

11It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the LORD all night.

"I am sorry that I made Saul king. He has turned away from me. He has not done what I told him to do." This upset Samuel. He cried out to the LORD all night long.

12And when Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning, it was told Samuel, saying, Saul came to Carmel, and, behold, he set him up a place, and is gone about, and passed on, and gone down to Gilgal.

Samuel got up early to go and meet Saul. Someone told him, "Saul went to Carmel. He set up a stone there to honor himself. Then he moved on down to Gilgal."

13And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of the LORD: I have performed the commandment of the LORD.

Samuel came to Saul. Saul said to him, "May the LORD bless you! I have done what the LORD told me to do."

14And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?

Samuel said, "Then why do I hear sheep? Why do I hear cattle mooing?"

15And Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites: for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed.

Saul said, "The soldiers brought them from the Amalekites. They kept the best sheep and cattle as a gift for the LORD your God. We destroyed all the rest."

16Then Samuel said unto Saul, Stay, and I will tell thee what the LORD hath said to me this night. And he said unto him, Say on.

Then Samuel said, "Stop. Let me tell you what the LORD said to me last night." Saul said, "Tell me."

17And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel?

Samuel said, "You once thought you were small and not important. But God made you the leader of all the tribes of Israel. The LORD poured oil on you and made you king."

18And the LORD sent thee on a journey, and said, Go and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be consumed.

"The LORD sent you out with a job to do. He said, 'Go and destroy the Amalekites, who do evil. Fight them until they are gone.'"

19Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the LORD, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of the LORD?

"So why did you not obey the LORD? You rushed to grab the things they left behind. You did what the LORD says is wrong."

20And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.

Saul said to Samuel, "But I did obey the LORD! I went where he sent me. I brought back Agag the king. I destroyed the Amalekites."

21But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God in Gilgal.

"The soldiers took some sheep and cattle from the things we captured. They took the best ones, to give as a gift to the LORD your God at Gilgal."

22And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

Samuel said, "What does the LORD want more? Animals burned as gifts, or a person who obeys him? Listen: obeying is better than giving gifts. Doing what God says is better than the finest sheep."

23For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.

"Refusing to obey is as bad as using magic. Being stubborn is as bad as praying to false gods. You said no to the LORD's word. So he says you are no longer king."

24And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.

Saul said to Samuel, "I have sinned. I did wrong. I broke the LORD's command and your words. I was afraid of the people, so I did what they wanted."

25Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD.

"Now please forgive me. Come back with me, so I can worship the LORD."

26And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee: for thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD hath rejected thee from being king over Israel.

Samuel said to Saul, "I will not go back with you. You said no to the LORD's word. So the LORD says you are no longer king over Israel."

27And as Samuel turned about to go away, he laid hold upon the skirt of his mantle, and it rent.

Samuel turned to walk away. Saul grabbed the edge of Samuel's robe, and it tore.

28And Samuel said unto him, The LORD hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbour of thine, that is better than thou.

Samuel said to him, "Today the LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel away from you. He has given it to a man near you who is better than you."

29And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent.

"God is the Strength of Israel. He does not lie, and he does not change his mind. He is not a person who changes his mind."

30Then he said, I have sinned: yet honour me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD thy God.

Saul said, "I have sinned. But please show me respect in front of the leaders and all Israel. Come back with me, so I can worship the LORD your God."

31So Samuel turned again after Saul; and Saul worshipped the LORD.

So Samuel went back with Saul, and Saul worshiped the LORD.

32Then said Samuel, Bring ye hither to me Agag the king of the Amalekites. And Agag came unto him delicately. And Agag said, Surely the bitterness of death is past.

Then Samuel said, "Bring me Agag, the king of the Amalekites." Agag came to him calmly. He thought, "The worst is over. I will not die."

33And Samuel said, As thy sword hath made women childless, so shall thy mother be childless among women. And Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the LORD in Gilgal.

Samuel said, "Your sword took children away from their mothers. Now your own mother will lose her child." Then Samuel cut Agag to pieces at Gilgal, before the LORD.

34Then Samuel went to Ramah; and Saul went up to his house to Gibeah of Saul.

Then Samuel went home to Ramah. Saul went up to his own house in Gibeah.

35And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death: nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul: and the LORD repented that he had made Saul king over Israel.

Samuel never went to see Saul again for the rest of his life. But Samuel was sad about Saul. And the LORD was sorry that he had made Saul king over Israel.

1And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons.

God said to Samuel, "How long will you be sad about Saul? I have said he can no longer be king of Israel. Fill your horn with olive oil and go. I am sending you to Jesse, who lives in Bethlehem. I have picked one of his sons to be king."

2And Samuel said, How can I go? if Saul hear it, he will kill me. And the LORD said, Take an heifer with thee, and say, I am come to sacrifice to the LORD.

Samuel said, "How can I go? If Saul hears about it, he will kill me." God said, "Take a young cow with you. Say, 'I have come to give a gift to God.'"

3And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will shew thee what thou shalt do: and thou shalt anoint unto me him whom I name unto thee.

"Invite Jesse to come to the offering. Then I will show you what to do. Pour oil on the one I point out to you."

4And Samuel did that which the LORD spake, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, Comest thou peaceably?

Samuel did what God said and went to Bethlehem. The leaders of the town were shaking with fear when he came. They asked, "Have you come in peace?"

5And he said, Peaceably: I am come to sacrifice unto the LORD: sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice.

He said, "In peace. I have come to give a gift to God. Get yourselves ready, and come with me." Then he helped Jesse and his sons get ready and invited them.

6And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD’s anointed is before him.

When they came, Samuel looked at Eliab. He thought, "Surely this is the man God has chosen."

7But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.

But God said to Samuel, "Do not look at his face or how tall he is. I have not chosen him. People look at the outside. But God looks at the heart."

8Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this.

Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him walk past Samuel. Samuel said, "God has not chosen this one either."

9Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this.

Then Jesse had Shammah walk past. Samuel said, "God has not chosen this one either."

10Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The LORD hath not chosen these.

Jesse had seven of his sons walk past Samuel. Samuel said to Jesse, "God has not chosen any of these."

11And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither.

Samuel asked Jesse, "Are these all your sons?" Jesse said, "There is still the youngest. He is out taking care of the sheep." Samuel said, "Send for him. We will not sit down to eat until he comes."

12And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he.

So they sent for him and brought him in. His skin had a healthy glow. He had lovely eyes and a fine face. God said, "Get up and pour the oil on him. This is the one."

13Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.

Samuel took the horn of oil. He poured it on David while his brothers watched. From that day on, God's Spirit came powerfully on David. Then Samuel got up and went home to Ramah.

18So David fled, and escaped, and came to Samuel to Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and dwelt in Naioth.

So David ran away and got safely out. He went to Samuel at Ramah and told him all that Saul had done. Then he and Samuel went to Naioth and stayed there.

19And it was told Saul, saying, Behold, David is at Naioth in Ramah.

Someone told Saul, "David is at Naioth in Ramah."

20And Saul sent messengers to take David: and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as appointed over them, the Spirit of God was upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied.

Saul sent men to catch David. They saw a group of prophets speaking God's words, with Samuel leading them. Then the Spirit of God came on Saul's men, and they spoke God's words too.

21And when it was told Saul, he sent other messengers, and they prophesied likewise. And Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they prophesied also.

Saul heard about this and sent more men. They also began speaking God's words. Saul sent men a third time, and the same thing happened.

22Then went he also to Ramah, and came to a great well that is in Sechu: and he asked and said, Where are Samuel and David? And one said, Behold, they be at Naioth in Ramah.

So Saul went to Ramah himself. He came to the big well at Sechu and asked, "Where are Samuel and David?" Someone said, "They are at Naioth in Ramah."

23And he went thither to Naioth in Ramah: and the Spirit of God was upon him also, and he went on, and prophesied, until he came to Naioth in Ramah.

Saul went there. The Spirit of God came on him too. He walked along speaking God's words all the way to Naioth in Ramah.

24And he stripped off his clothes also, and prophesied before Samuel in like manner, and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Wherefore they say, Is Saul also among the prophets?

He pulled off his robes and spoke God's words in front of Samuel. Then he lay on the ground with no clothes on, all that day and all that night. That is why people say, "Is Saul one of the prophets too?"

1And Samuel died; and all the Israelites were gathered together, and lamented him, and buried him in his house at Ramah. And David arose, and went down to the wilderness of Paran.

Samuel died. He was a prophet, a man who told people what God said. All Israel came together and cried for him. They buried him at his home in Ramah. Then David went down to the desert of Paran.