1 Samuel 12:12-25 ▼

12 And you see that Nahash king of the sons of Ammon has come against you, and you say to me, No, but a king reigns over us; and your God YHWH [is] your king!

13 And now, behold the king whom you have chosen—whom you have asked for! And behold, YHWH has placed a king over you.

14 If you fear YHWH, and have served Him, and listened to His voice, then you do not provoke the mouth of YHWH, and you have been—both you and the king who has reigned over you—after your God YHWH.

15 And if you do not listen to the voice of YHWH—then you have provoked the mouth of YHWH, and the hand of YHWH has been against you, and against your fathers.

16 Also now, station yourselves and see this great thing which YHWH is doing before your eyes;

17 is it not wheat-harvest today? I call to YHWH, and He gives voices and rain; and know and see that your evil is great which you have done in the eyes of YHWH, to ask [for] a king for yourselves.”

18 And Samuel calls to YHWH, and YHWH gives voices and rain on that day, and all the people greatly fear YHWH and Samuel;

19 and all the people say to Samuel, “Pray for your servants to your God YHWH, and we do not die, for we have added evil to all our sins to ask [for] a king for ourselves.”

20 And Samuel says to the people, “Do not fear; you have done all this evil; only, do not turn aside from after YHWH—and you have served YHWH with all your heart,

21 and you do not turn aside after the vain things which do not profit nor deliver, for they [are] vain,

22 for YHWH does not leave His people, on account of His great Name; for YHWH has been pleased to make you for a people to Him.

23 I, also, far be it from me to sin against YHWH, by ceasing to pray for you, and I have directed you in the good and upright way;

24 only, fear YHWH, and you have served Him in truth with all your heart, for see that which He has made great with you;

25 and if you really do evil, both you and your king are consumed.”