1When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as judges over Israel.2The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second was Abijah; they served as judges in Beersheba.3His sons did not walk in his way or in his ways; they turned aside after unjust gain, took a bribe, and perverted justice.4All the elders of Israel assembled and came to Samuel at Ramah.5They said to him, "You are old, and your sons do not follow your conduct; now appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations."6The request displeased Samuel when they said, "Give us a king to judge us"; and Samuel prayed to the LORD.7The LORD said to Samuel, "Listen to the people in everything they say to you, for they have not rejected you; they have rejected me from being king over them."8According to all the deeds that they have done from the day I brought them up from Egypt until this day, they have forsaken me and served other gods; so they are doing also to you.9Now listen to their voice; nevertheless, you shall surely testify against them and tell them the justice of the king who will reign over them.10Samuel reported all the words of the LORD to the people who had asked him for a king.11He said, "This will be the practice of the king who will reign over you: he will take your sons and appoint them to his chariots and his cavalry, and they will run before his chariot."12And 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 weapons of war and the equipment of his chariots.13He will take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks, and bakers.14And he will take your fields and your vineyards and your olive trees, the pleasant ones, and give them to his servants.15He will take a tenth of your grain and your vineyards and give it to his officials and servants.16He will take your male and female servants, your best young men, and your donkeys and put them to his work.17He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his servants.18And you will cry out on that day from before your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, and the LORD will not answer you on that day.19The people refused to listen to Samuel and said, "No, we must have a king over us."20Then we also will be like all the nations; our king will judge us and will go out before us and fight our battles.21Samuel heard all the words of the people and repeated them in the hearing of the LORD.22The LORD said to Samuel, "Listen to them and appoint a king for them"; then Samuel said to the men of Israel, "Each of you return to his city."