¹⁴ If you will ^(A)fear the Lord and serve him and obey his voice and not rebel against the commandment of the Lord, and if both you and the king who reigns over you will follow the Lord your God, it will be well. ¹⁵ But ^(B)if you will not obey the voice of the Lord, but rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then ^(C)the hand of the Lord will be against you and ^(D)your king.^[a]

¹⁹ And all the people said to Samuel, ^(A)“Pray for your servants to the Lord your God, that we may not die, for we have added to all our sins this evil, to ask for ourselves a king.” ²⁰ And Samuel said to the people, “Do not be afraid; you have done all this evil. Yet ^(B)do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. ²¹ And ^(C)do not turn aside after ^(D)empty things that cannot profit or deliver, for they are empty. ^22 (E)For the Lord will not forsake his people, ^(F)for his great name's sake, because ^(G)it has pleased the Lord to make you a people for himself. ²³ Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing ^(H)to pray for you, ^(I)and I will instruct you in the good and the right way. ^24 (J)Only fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider ^(K)what great things he has done for you.