1 Samuel 12:12-25

New International Version

¹² “But when you saw that Nahash^(A) king^(B) of the Ammonites was moving against you, you said to me, ‘No, we want a king to rule^(C) over us’—even though the Lord your God was your king. ¹³ Now here is the king^(D) you have chosen, the one you asked^(E) for; see, the Lord has set a king over you. ¹⁴ If you fear^(F) the Lord and serve and obey him and do not rebel^(G) against his commands, and if both you and the king who reigns over you follow the Lord your God—good! ¹⁵ But if you do not obey the Lord, and if you rebel against^(H) his commands, his hand will be against you, as it was against your ancestors.

¹⁶ “Now then, stand still^(I) and see^(J) this great thing the Lord is about to do before your eyes! ¹⁷ Is it not wheat harvest^(K) now? I will call^(L) on the Lord to send thunder^(M) and rain.^(N) And you will realize what an evil^(O) thing you did in the eyes of the Lord when you asked for a king.”

¹⁸ Then Samuel called on the Lord,^(P) and that same day the Lord sent thunder and rain. So all the people stood in awe^(Q) of the Lord and of Samuel.

¹⁹ The people all said to Samuel, “Pray^(R) to the Lord your God for your servants so that we will not die,^(S) for we have added to all our other sins the evil of asking for a king.”

²⁰ “Do not be afraid,” Samuel replied. “You have done all this evil;^(T) yet do not turn away from the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. ²¹ Do not turn away after useless^(U) idols.^(V) They can do you no good, nor can they rescue you, because they are useless. ²² For the sake^(W) of his great name^(X) the Lord will not reject^(Y) his people, because the Lord was pleased to make^(Z) you his own. ²³ As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray^(AA) for you. And I will teach^(AB) you the way that is good and right. ²⁴ But be sure to fear^(AC) the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart;^(AD) consider^(AE) what great^(AF) things he has done for you. ²⁵ Yet if you persist^(AG) in doing evil, both you and your king^(AH) will perish.”^(AI)