² See, it is the king who leads you now; I am old and gray, but my sons are with you. I have led you from my youth until this day.^(A)

⁵ and said to him, “You are old, and your sons do not follow in your ways; appoint for us, then, a king to govern us, like other nations.”^(A)

²⁰ so that we also may be like other nations and that our king may govern us and go out before us and fight our battles.”^(A)

Israel Demands a King

8 When Samuel became old, he made his sons judges over Israel.^(A)

³ Yet his sons did not follow in his ways but turned aside after gain; they took bribes and perverted justice.^(A)

¹⁹ As Samuel grew up, the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground.^{(A) 20} And all Israel from Dan to Beer-sheba knew that Samuel was a trustworthy prophet of the Lord.^(B)

¹⁷ who shall go out before them and come in before them, who shall lead them out and bring them in, so that the congregation of the Lord may not be like sheep without a shepherd.”^(A)

¹⁴ since I know that my death^[a] will come soon, as indeed our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me.^(A)

⁶ As for me, I am already being poured out as a libation, and the time of my departure has come.^(A)