⁵ Then Samuel^(A) said, “Assemble all Israel at Mizpah,^(B) and I will intercede^(C) with the Lord for you.”

³⁰ The next day Moses said to the people, “You have committed a great sin.^(A) But now I will go up to the Lord; perhaps I can make atonement^(B) for your sin.”

⁷ The people came to Moses^(A) and said, “We sinned^(B) when we spoke against the Lord and against you. Pray that the Lord^(C) will take the snakes away from us.” So Moses prayed^(D) for the people.

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

²³ As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray^(A) for you. And I will teach^(B) you the way that is good and right.

²⁴ Then you call^(A) on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord.^(B) The god who answers by fire^(C)—he is God.”

Then all the people said, “What you say is good.”

⁴ It may be that the Lord your God will hear the words of the field commander, whom his master, the king of Assyria, has sent to ridicule^(A) the living God,^(B) and that he will rebuke him for the words the Lord your God has heard.^(C) Therefore pray^(D) for the remnant^(E) that still survives.”

15 Then the Lord said to me: “Even if Moses^(A) and Samuel^(B) were to stand before me, my heart would not go out to this people.^(C) Send them away from my presence!^(D) Let them go!

¹⁸ If they are prophets and have the word of the Lord, let them plead^(A) with the Lord Almighty that the articles remaining in the house of the Lord and in the palace of the king of Judah and in Jerusalem not be taken to Babylon.