1 Samuel 8:1-22 GNT

[1] When Samuel grew old, he made his sons judges in Israel. [2] The older son was named Joel and the younger one Abijah; they were judges in Beersheba. [3] But they did not follow their father's example; they were interested only in making money, so they accepted bribes and did not decide cases honestly. [4] Then all the leaders of Israel met together, went to Samuel in Ramah, [5] and said to him, "Look, you are getting old and your sons don't follow your example. So then, appoint a king to rule over us, so that we will have a king, as other countries have." [6] Samuel was displeased with their request for a king; so he prayed to the LORD, [7] and the LORD said, "Listen to everything the people say to you. You are not the one they have rejected; I am the one they have rejected as their king. [8] Ever since I brought them out of Egypt, they have turned away from me and worshiped other gods; and now they are doing to you what they have always done to me. [9] So then, listen to them, but give them strict warnings and explain how their kings will treat them." [10] Samuel told the people who were asking him for a king everything that the LORD had said to him. [11] "This is how your king will treat you," Samuel explained. "He will make soldiers of your sons; some of them will serve in his war chariots, others in his cavalry, and others will run before his chariots. [12] He will make some of them officers in charge of a thousand men, and others in charge of fifty men. Your sons will have to plow his fields, harvest his crops, and make his weapons and the equipment for his chariots. [13] Your daughters will have to make perfumes for him and work as his cooks and his bakers. [14] He will take your best fields, vineyards, and olive groves, and give them to his officials. [15] He will take a tenth of your grain and of your grapes for his court officers and other officials. [16] He will take your servants and your best cattle and donkeys, and make them work for him. [17] He will take a tenth of your flocks. And you yourselves will become his slaves. [18] When that time comes, you will complain bitterly because of your king, whom you yourselves chose, but the LORD will not listen to your complaints." [19] The people paid no attention to Samuel, but said, "No! We want a king, [20] so that we will be like other nations, with our own king to rule us and to lead us out to war and to fight our battles." [21] Samuel listened to everything they said and then went and told it to the LORD. [22] The LORD answered, "Do what they want and give them a king." Then Samuel told all the men of Israel to go back home.