¹⁹ But the people refused^(A) to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We want^(B) a king^(C) over us. ²⁰ Then we will be like all the other nations,^(D) 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^(E) it before the Lord. ²² The Lord answered, “Listen^(F) to them and give them a king.”

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