1And when Samuel was old, he made his sons judges over Israel. 2Now the name of his first-born was Joel; and his second was Abijah; they served as judges in Beersheba. 3But his sons did not follow in his ways. They turned aside after money, took bribes, and perverted justice.

4Then finally, all the elders of Israel gathered together, and came to Samuel at Ramah, 5And said to him, “Look, you are old, and your sons do not follow your ways; now give us a king to lead us, like all the other nations.” 6But it displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to lead us.” And so Samuel prayed to the LORD. 7And the LORD said to Samuel, “Listen to what the people are saying to you; for it is not you that they have rejected; but they have rejected Me, as their King. 8Just as they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, they have forsaken Me, and served other gods. And now they are treating you as they have treated Me. 9Now, listen to them; but warn them solemnly about the manner of king that will reign over them.”

10And Samuel told all these words of the LORD to the people who asked him for a king. 11And he said, “This will be the kind of the king who shall reign over you: he will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots. 12And he will appoint some commanders over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will have others plow his ground, reap his harvest, make his weapons of war, and build him chariots. 13And he will take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks, and bakers. 14And he will take the best of your fields, your vineyards, and your olive yards, and give them to his servants. 15And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and his servants. 16And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your choicest young men, and your donkeys for his own use. 17He will take the tenth of your sheep; and you, yourselves, shall be his servants. 18And then you shall cry out because of your king whom you have chosen; and the LORD will not hear you in that day.”

19Nevertheless, the people refused to listen to Samuel; but said, “No; we want to have a king over us; 20That we may be like other nations; that our king may judge us, and lead us when we fight our battles.” 21And Samuel, reported all the words of the people to the LORD. 22And the LORD said to Samuel, “Listen to them, and make them a king.” And Samuel told the men of Israel, “Let everyone return to his city.”