1 Samuel 12:12-25
Complete Jewish Bible
12 When you saw that Nachash the king of the people of ‘Amon was attacking you, you said to me, “No, we want a king to rule over us” — when Adonai your God was your king. 13 Now, here’s the king you have chosen, the one you asked for. See, Adonai has put a king over you. 14 If you will fear Adonai, serve him, obey what he says and not rebel against Adonai’s orders — if both you and the king ruling you remain followers of Adonai your God — [then things will go well for you.] 15 But if you refuse to obey what Adonai says and rebel against Adonai’s orders, then Adonai will oppress both you and your leaders.
16 “Now therefore, hold still; and see the great deed which Adonai will perform before your very eyes. 17 Now is wheat harvest time, isn’t it? I am going to call on Adonai to send thunder and rain. Then you will understand and see how wicked from Adonai’s viewpoint is the thing you have done in asking for a king.” 18 Sh’mu’el called to Adonai, and Adonai sent thunder and rain that day. Then all the people became very much afraid of Adonai and Sh’mu’el. 19 All the people said to Sh’mu’el, “Pray to Adonai your God for your servants, so that we won’t die; because to all our other sins now we’ve added this evil as well, asking for a king over us.” 20 Sh’mu’el answered the people, “Don’t be afraid. You have indeed done all this evil; yet now, just don’t turn away from following Adonai; but serve Adonai with all your heart. 21 Don’t turn to the side; because then you would go after useless things that can neither help nor rescue, they are so futile. 22 For the sake of his great reputation, Adonai will not abandon his people; because it has pleased Adonai to make you a people for himself. 23 As for me, far be it from me to sin against Adonai by ceasing to pray for you! Rather, I will continue instructing you in the good and right way. 24 Only fear Adonai, and serve him faithfully with all your heart; for think what great things he has done for you! 25 However, if you insist on doing wicked things, you will be swept away — both you and your king!”
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1 Samuel 12:12-25
New King James Version
12 And when you saw that (A)Nahash king of the Ammonites came against you, (B)you said to me, ‘No, but a king shall reign over us,’ when (C)the Lord your God was your king.
13 “Now therefore, (D)here is the king (E)whom you have chosen and whom you have desired. And take note, (F)the Lord has set a king over you. 14 If you (G)fear the Lord and serve Him and obey His voice, and do not rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then both you and the king who reigns over you will continue following the Lord your God. 15 However, if you do (H)not obey the voice of the Lord, but (I)rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then the hand of the Lord will be against you, as it was against your fathers.
16 “Now therefore, (J)stand and see this great thing which the Lord will do before your eyes: 17 Is today not the (K)wheat harvest? (L)I will call to the Lord, and He will send thunder and (M)rain, that you may perceive and see that (N)your wickedness is great, which you have done in the sight of the Lord, in asking a king for yourselves.”
18 So Samuel called to the Lord, and the Lord sent thunder and rain that day; and (O)all the people greatly feared the Lord and Samuel.
19 And all the people said to Samuel, (P)“Pray for your servants to the Lord your God, that we may not die; for we have added to all our sins the evil of asking a king for ourselves.”
20 Then Samuel said to the people, “Do not fear. You have done all this wickedness; (Q)yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. 21 And (R)do not turn aside; (S)for then you would go after empty things which cannot profit or deliver, for they are nothing. 22 For (T)the Lord will not forsake (U)His people, (V)for His great name’s sake, because (W)it has pleased the Lord to make you His people. 23 Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord (X)in ceasing to pray for you; but (Y)I will teach you the (Z)good and the right way. 24 (AA)Only fear the Lord, and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for (AB)consider what (AC)great things He has done for you. 25 But if you still do wickedly, (AD)you shall be swept away, (AE)both you and your king.”
Read full chapterCopyright © 1998 by David H. Stern. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
