⁴ So all the elders^(A) of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah.^{(B) 5} They said to him, “You are old, and your sons do not follow your ways; now appoint a king^(C) to lead^[a](D) us, such as all the other nations^(E) have.”

⁶ But when they said, “Give us a king^(F) to lead us,” this displeased^(G) Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord. ⁷ And the Lord told him: “Listen^(H) to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected,^(I) but they have rejected me as their king.^{(J) 8} As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking^(K) me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. ⁹ Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know^(L) what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights.”

¹⁰ Samuel told^(M) all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking him for a king. ¹¹ He said, “This is what the king who will reign over you will claim as his rights: He will take^(N) your sons and make them serve^(O) with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots.^{(P) 12} Some he will assign to be commanders^(Q) of thousands and commanders of fifties, and others to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and still others to make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. ¹³ He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. ¹⁴ He will take the best of your^(R) fields and vineyards^(S) and olive groves and give them to his attendants.^{(T) 15} He will take a tenth^(U) of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants. ¹⁶ Your male and female servants and the best of your cattle^[b] and donkeys he will take for his own use. ¹⁷ He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. ¹⁸ When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, but the Lord will not answer^(V) you in that day.^(W)”