"Now,hereis the kingwalkingbeforeyou, but I amoldand gray,and beholdmy sonsare with you. And I have walkedbeforeyou from my youthevento thisday.
And evenwhen[I am] oldand gray,O God,do not forsakeme, UntilI declareYour strengthto [this] generation,Your powerto allwho are to come.
whowill goout and comein beforethem, and whowill leadthem out and bringthem in, so that the congregationof the LORDwill not be like sheepwhichhavenoshepherd."
For I am alreadybeing poured out as a drink offering,and the timeof my departurehas come.
Now it cameabout aftermanydays,whenthe LORDhad givenrestto Israelfrom alltheir enemieson everyside,and Joshuawas old,advancedin years,
that Joshuacalledfor allIsrael,for their eldersand their headsand their judgesand their officers,and saidto them, "I amold,advancedin years.
knowingthat the laying asideof my [earthly] dwellingis imminent,as alsoour LordJesusChristhas made clearto me.
Now Eliwas veryold;and he heardallthat his sonswere doingto allIsrael,and howthey laywith the womenwho servedat the doorwayof the tentof meeting.
Whydo you kickat My sacrificeand at My offeringwhichI have commanded[in My] dwelling,and honoryour sonsaboveMe, by makingyourselves fatwith the choicestof everyofferingof My peopleIsrael?'
Then the LORDcameand stoodand calledas at othertimes,"Samuel!Samuel!"And Samuelsaid,"Speak,for Your servantis listening."
"For I have toldhim that I am about to judgehis houseforeverfor the iniquitywhichhe knew,becausehis sonsbroughta curseon themselvesand he did not rebukethem.
Then ElicalledSamueland said,"Samuel,my son."And he said,"HereI am."
And it cameabout whenSamuelwas oldthat he appointedhis sonsjudgesover Israel.
that we alsomay be like allthe nations,that our kingmay judgeus and goout beforeus and fightour battles."
His sons,however, did not walkin his ways,but turnedasideafterdishonestgainand tookbribesand pervertedjustice.
and they saidto him, "Behold,you have grownold,and your sonsdo not walkin your ways.Nowappointa kingfor us to judgeus like allthe nations."
