Common English Bible

1 Samuel 8:13-21 Common English Bible (CEB)

13. He will take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks, or bakers.

14. He will take your best fields, vineyards, and olive groves and give them to his servants.

15. He will give one-tenth of your grain and your vineyards to his officials and servants.

16. He will take your male and female servants, along with the best of your cattle and donkeys, and make them do his work.

17. He will take one-tenth of your flocks, and then you yourselves will become his slaves!

18. When that day comes, you will cry out because of the king you chose for yourselves, but on that day the Lord won’t answer you."

19. But the people refused to listen to Samuel and said, "No! There must be a king over us

20. so we can be like all the other nations. Our king will judge us and lead us and fight our battles."

21. Samuel listened to everything the people said and repeated it directly to the Lord.