And it came to pass when Shemu'el grew old, and he appointed his sons judges over Yisra'el.

And the name of his firstborn son was Yo'el, and the name of his second, Aviah; they were judges in Be'er Sheva.

And his sons did not walk in his ways, but they turned aside after gain, and they took bribes and perverted judgment.

And all the elders of Yisra'el gathered and came to Shemu'el in Ramah.

And they said to him, Behold, you have grown old, and your sons do not walk in your ways; now appoint for us a king to judge us, like all the nations.

And the thing was evil in the eyes of Shemu'el when they said, Give us a king to judge us; and Shemu'el prayed to יהוה.

And יהוה said to Shemu'el, Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for it is not you they have rejected, but it is Me they have rejected from reigning over them.

According to all the deeds which they have done from the day I brought them up from Mitsrayim until this day, and they have forsaken Me and served other elohim, so they are doing to you also.

And now, listen to their voice; however, you shall testify against them and tell them the judgment of the king who will reign over them.

And Shemu'el spoke all the words of יהוה to the people who were asking him for a king.

And he said, This will be the judgment of the king who will reign over you: He will take your sons and appoint them for himself for his chariots and for his horsemen, and they will run before his chariots.

And he will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and to plow his plowing and to reap his reaping, and to make his weapons of war and the equipment of his chariots.

And your daughters he will take for perfumers and for cooks and for bakers.

And your fields and your vineyards and your best olive trees he will take and give to his servants.

And your seed and your vineyards he will tithe and give to his eunuchs and to his servants.

And your male servants and your female servants and your best young men and your donkeys he will take and use for his work.

Your flocks he will tithe, and you yourselves will be his slaves.

And you will cry out on that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, and יהוה will not answer you on that day.

And the people refused to listen to the voice of Shemu'el, and they said, No, but a king shall be over us.

And we also will be like all the nations, and our king will judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.

And Shemu'el heard all the words of the people and spoke them in the ears of יהוה.

And יהוה said to Shemu'el, Listen to their voice and appoint a king for them. And Shemu'el said to the men of Yisra'el, Go, each man to his city.