1. And it happened that, when Samuel had become old, he appointed his sons as judges over Israel.
2. Now the name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of the second was Abijah: judges at Beersheba.
3. But his sons did not walk in his ways. Instead, they turned aside, pursuing avarice. And they accepted bribes, and they perverted judgment.
4. Therefore, all those greater by birth of Israel, having gathered together, went to Samuel at Ramah.
5. And they said to him: "Behold, you are elderly, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Appoint for us a king, so that he may judge us, just as all the nations have."
6. And the word was displeasing in the eyes of Samuel, for they had said, "Give us a king to judge us." And Samuel prayed to the Lord.
7. Then the Lord said to Samuel: "Listen to the voice of the people in all that they are saying to you. For they have not rejected you, but me, lest I reign over them.
8. In accord with all their works, which they have done from the day when I led them away from Egypt, even to this day: just as they have forsaken me, and served foreign gods, so now they also do to you.
9. Now therefore, hear their voice. Yet truly, testify to them and foretell to them the rights of the king who will reign over them."
10. And so, Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people, who had petitioned a king from him.
11. And he said: "This will be the right of the king who will have authority over you: He will take your sons, and place them in his chariots. And he will make them his horsemen and his runners before his four-horse chariots.