22 The reads the enigmatic אֱהִי (’ehi, “I want to be [your king]”; apocopated Qal imperfect 1st person common singular from הָיָה, hayah, “to be”) which makes little sense and conflicts with the 3rd person masculine singular form in the dependent clause: “that he might save you” (וְיוֹשִׁיעֲךָ, véyoshi’akha). All the versions (Greek, , ) read the interrogative particle אַיֵּה (’ayyeh, “where?”) which the editors endorse. The textual corruption was caused by metathesis of the י (yod) and ה (hey). Few English versions follow the : “I will be thy/your king” (, ). Most recent English versions follow the ancient versions in reading “Where is your king?” (, , , , , , , ).
23 The repetition of the phrase “Where are …?” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is implied by the parallelism in the preceding lines. It is supplied in the translation for the sake of clarity and for stylistic reasons.
24 The prefix-conjugation verb אֶתֶּן (’eten, “I gave”) refers to past-time action, specifying a definite past event (the enthronement of Saul); therefore, this should be classified as a preterite. While imperfects are occasionally used in reference to past-time events, they depict repeated action in the past. See §31.2 and 510–14 §31.6.

In other versions

Where now is your king, to save you in all your cities?

Where are all your rulers—

those of whom you said,

“Give me a king and princes”?

I gave you a king in my anger,

and I took him away in my wrath.

Where is your king, that he may save you?

Where are your rulers in all your towns,

of whom you said,

‘Give me a king and princes’?

So in my anger I gave you a king,

and in my wrath I took him away.

Where now is your king,

that he may save you in all your cities,

and the rulers you demanded, saying,

“Give me a king and leaders”?

I give you a king in my anger

and take away a king in my wrath.

Now where is your king?

Let him save you!

Where are all the leaders of the land,

the king and the officials you demanded of me?

In my anger I gave you kings,

and in my fury I took them away.

Where now is your king that he may save you?

Where in all your cities are your judges,

of whom you said, “Give to

me a king and rulers?”

I gave you a king in my anger,

and I took him in my wrath.

I will be thy king: where is any other that may save thee in all thy cities?

And thy judges of whom thou saidst, Give me a king and princes?

I gave thee a king in mine anger,

And took him away in my wrath.

Public Domain