1 Samuel 8:6-18

New International Version

⁶ But when they said, “Give us a king^(A) to lead us,” this displeased^(B) Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord. ⁷ And the Lord told him: “Listen^(C) to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected,^(D) but they have rejected me as their king.^{(E) 8} As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking^(F) me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. ⁹ Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know^(G) what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights.”

¹⁰ Samuel told^(H) all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking him for a king. ¹¹ He said, “This is what the king who will reign over you will claim as his rights: He will take^(I) your sons and make them serve^(J) with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots.^{(K) 12} Some he will assign to be commanders^(L) of thousands and commanders of fifties, and others to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and still others to make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. ¹³ He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. ¹⁴ He will take the best of your^(M) fields and vineyards^(N) and olive groves and give them to his attendants.^{(O) 15} He will take a tenth^(P) 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^(Q) you in that day.^(R)”