1 Samuel 8:15-22

New International Version

¹⁵ He will take a tenth^(A) 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^[a] 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^(B) you in that day.^(C)”

¹⁹ But the people refused^(D) to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We want^(E) a king^(F) over us. ²⁰ Then we will be like all the other nations,^(G) with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.”

²¹ When Samuel heard all that the people said, he repeated^(H) it before the Lord. ²² The Lord answered, “Listen^(I) to them and give them a king.”

Then Samuel said to the Israelites, “Everyone go back to your own town.”