1 Samuel 8, Psalm 100, Proverbs 3 - ESV Online

1 SAMUEL 8

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Israel Demands a King

8:1 When Samuel became old, he made his sons judges over Israel. 2 The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judges in Beersheba. 3 Yet his sons did not walk in his ways but turned aside after gain. They took bribes and perverted justice.
4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah 5 and said to him, “Behold, you are old and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint for 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.” And Samuel prayed to the Lord. 7 And the Lord said to Samuel, “Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them. 8 According to all the deeds that they have done, from the day I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are also doing to you. 9 Now then, obey their voice; only you shall solemnly warn them and show them the ways of the king who shall reign over them.” Samuel’s Warning Against Kings

10 So Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking for a king from him. 11 He said, “These will be the ways of the king who will reign over you: he will take your sons and appoint them to his chariots and to be his horsemen and to run before his chariots. 12 And he will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and some to plow his ground and to reap his harvest, and to make his implements of war and the equipment of his chariots. 13 He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. 14 He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive orchards and give them to his servants. 15 He will take the tenth of your grain and of your vineyards and give it to his officers and to his servants. 16 He will take your male servants and female servants and the best of your young men and your donkeys, and put them to his work. 17 He will take the tenth of your flocks, and you shall be his slaves. 18 And in that day you will cry out because of your king, whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the Lord will not answer you in that day.” The Lord Grants Israel’s Request

19 But the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel. And they said, “No! But there shall be 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 And when Samuel had heard all the words of the people, he repeated them in the ears of the Lord. 22 And the Lord said to Samuel, “Obey their voice and make them a king.” Samuel then said to the men of Israel, “Go every man to his city.”

PSALM 100

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His Steadfast Love Endures Forever

A Psalm for giving thanks.
100:1

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! 2

Serve the Lord with gladness!

Come into his presence with singing!
3

Know that the Lord, he is God!

It is he who made us, and we are his;

we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
4

Enter his gates with thanksgiving,

and his courts with praise!

Give thanks to him; bless his name!
5

For the Lord is good;

his steadfast love endures forever,

and his faithfulness to all generations.

PROVERBS 3

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Trust in the Lord with All Your Heart

3:1

My son, do not forget my teaching,

but let your heart keep my commandments, 2

for length of days and years of life

and peace they will add to you.
3

Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you;

bind them around your neck;

write them on the tablet of your heart. 4

So you will find favor and good success

in the sight of God and man.
5

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

and do not lean on your own understanding. 6

In all your ways acknowledge him,

and he will make straight your paths. 7

Be not wise in your own eyes;

fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. 8

It will be healing to your flesh

and refreshment to your bones.
9

Honor the Lord with your wealth

and with the firstfruits of all your produce; 10

then your barns will be filled with plenty,

and your vats will be bursting with wine.
11

My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline

or be weary of his reproof, 12

for the Lord reproves him whom he loves,

as a father the son in whom he delights. Blessed Is the One Who Finds Wisdom

Blessed is the one who finds wisdom,

and the one who gets understanding, 14

for the gain from her is better than gain from silver

and her profit better than gold. 15

She is more precious than jewels,

and nothing you desire can compare with her. 16

Long life is in her right hand;

in her left hand are riches and honor. 17

Her ways are ways of pleasantness,

and all her paths are peace. 18

She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her;

those who hold her fast are called blessed.
19

The Lord by wisdom founded the earth;

by understanding he established the heavens; 20

by his knowledge the deeps broke open,

and the clouds drop down the dew.
21

My son, do not lose sight of these—

keep sound wisdom and discretion, 22

and they will be life for your soul

and adornment for your neck. 23

Then you will walk on your way securely,

and your foot will not stumble. 24

If you lie down, you will not be afraid;

when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. 25

Do not be afraid of sudden terror

or of the ruin of the wicked, when it comes, 26

for the Lord will be your confidence

and will keep your foot from being caught. 27

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,

when it is in your power to do it.
28

Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again,

tomorrow I will give it”—when you have it with you. 29

Do not plan evil against your neighbor,

who dwells trustingly beside you. 30

Do not contend with a man for no reason,

when he has done you no harm. 31

Do not envy a man of violence

and do not choose any of his ways, 32

for the devious person is an abomination to the Lord,

but the upright are in his confidence. 33

The Lord’s curse is on the house of the wicked,

but he blesses the dwelling of the righteous. 34

Toward the scorners he is scornful,

but to the humble he gives favor. 35

The wise will inherit honor,

but fools get disgrace.