1 When Samuel was old, he made his sons judges over Israel. 2 Now the name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah. They were judges in Beersheba. 3 His sons didn’t walk in his ways, but turned away after dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice.

4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together and came to Samuel to Ramah. 5 They said to him, "Behold, you are old, and your sons don’t walk in your ways. Now make 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."

Samuel prayed to Yahweh. 7 Yahweh said to Samuel, "Listen to the voice of the people in all that they tell you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me as the king over them. 8 According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, in that they have forsaken me and served other gods, so they also do to you. 9 Now therefore, listen to their voice. However, you shall protest solemnly to them, and shall show them the way of the king who will reign over them."

10 Samuel told all Yahweh’s words to the people who asked him for a king. 11 He said, "This will be the way of the king who shall reign over you: he will take your sons and appoint them as his servants, for his chariots and to be his horsemen; and they will run before his chariots. 12 He will appoint them to him for captains of thousands and captains of fifties; and he will assign some to plow his ground and to reap his harvest; and to make his instruments of war and the instruments of his chariots. 13 He will take your daughters to be perfumers, to be cooks, and to be bakers. 14 He will take your fields, your vineyards, and your olive groves, even your best, and give them to his servants. 15 He will take one tenth of your seed and of your vineyards, and give it to his officers and to his servants. 16 He will take your male servants, your female servants, your best young men, and your donkeys, and assign them to his own work. 17 He will take one tenth of your flocks; and you will be his servants. 18 You will cry out in that day because of your king whom you will have chosen for yourselves; and Yahweh will not answer you in that day."

19 But the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel; and they said, "No, but we will have 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 Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of Yahweh. 22 Yahweh said to Samuel, "Listen to their voice, and make them a king."

Samuel said to the men of Israel, "Everyone go to your own city."

1 And it came to pass when Samuel was old that he made his sons judges over Israel.

2 Now the name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second, Abiah; [they were] judges in Beersheba.

3 And his sons did not walk in his ways but turned aside after greed, receiving bribes and perverting [that which is] right.

4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together and came to Samuel in Ramah

5 and said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons do not walk in thy ways; therefore make us a king to judge us like all the Gentiles.

6 But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD.

7 And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee, for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me that I should not reign over them.

8 According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, with which they have forsaken me and served other gods, so they also do unto thee.

9 Now, therefore, hearken unto their voice; however [first] protest solemnly against them by declaring unto them the rights of the king that shall reign over them.

10 And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that asked him for a king.

11 And he said, This will be the right of the king that 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 chariot.

12 And he will appoint captains over thousands and captains over fifties and [will set them] to plough his ground and to reap his harvest and to make his weapons of war and the munitions of his chariots.

13 And he will take your daughters [to be] confectioneries and [to be] cooks and [to be] bakers.

14 And he will take your fields and your vineyards and your good oliveyards and give [them] to his servants.

15 And he will take the tenth of your seed and of your vineyards to give to his officers and to his servants.

16 And he will take your menservants and your maidservants and your good young men and your asses and do his work with them.

17 He will also take the tenth of your sheep, and [finally] ye shall be his servants.

18 And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you, and the LORD will not hear you in that day.

19 Nevertheless, the people refused to hear the voice of Samuel, and they said, No, but we will have a king over us

20 that we also may be like all the Gentiles and that our king may govern us and go out before us and fight our battles.

21 And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of the LORD.

22 And the LORD said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and place a king over them. Then Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go each one unto his city.: