And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.

That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.

And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel.

And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.

Which may go out before them, and which may go in before them, and which may lead them out, and which may bring them in; that the congregation of the LORD be not as sheep which have no shepherd.

And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground.

For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.

For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not. {For I...: or, And I will tell him} {vile: or, accursed} {restrained...: Heb. frowned not upon them}

Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled {at} the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. {assembled: Heb. assembled by troops}

Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, which are borne {by me} from the belly, which are carried from the womb:

Knowing that shortly I must put off {this} my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me.

Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering, which I have commanded {in my} habitation; and honourest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people?

Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto {this} generation, {and} thy power to every one {that} is to come. {when...: Heb. unto old age and gray hairs} {thy strength: Heb. thine arm}

Then Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel, my son. And he answered, Here {am} I.

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. {Train...: or, Catechise} {in...: Heb. in his way}

The hoary head {is} a crown of glory, {if} it be found in the way of righteousness.

So Saul took the kingdom over Israel, and fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, and against the children of Ammon, and against Edom, and against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines: and whithersoever he turned himself, he vexed {them}.

My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.

But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity: redeem me, and be merciful unto me.

And I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counsellors as at the beginning: afterward thou shalt be called, The city of righteousness, the faithful city.