1 Samuel 12
International Standard Version
Samuel’s Farewell
12 Then Samuel told all Israel, “Take note! I’ve listened to you, to everything you have told me, and I’ve appointed a king over you. 2 Now here is the king walking before you,[a] while I’m old and gray, and my sons are with you. I’ve walked before you[b] from my youth until this day. 3 Here I am. Testify against me in the Lord’s presence and before his anointed. Whose ox have I taken, or whose donkey have I taken? Who have I cheated? Who have I oppressed? Who bribed me to look the other way?[c] I’ll restore it to you.”
4 They said, “You haven’t cheated us or oppressed us, and you haven’t taken anything from anyone’s hand.”
5 He told them, “Today the Lord is testifying, along with his anointed, that you haven’t found any bribes in my possession.”
They said, “He’s a witness.”
6 Then Samuel told the people, “It is the Lord who appointed Moses and Aaron and who brought your ancestors up out of the land of Egypt. 7 Now stand up and I’ll pass judgment on you in light of the Lord’s righteous acts that he did for you and your ancestors. 8 After Jacob went to Egypt, and your ancestors cried out to the Lord, he sent Moses and Aaron, who brought your ancestors out of Egypt and settled them in this place. 9 But they forgot the Lord their God, so he handed them over to the domination of Sisera, the commander of the army of Hazor, and into domination by the Philistines and by the king of Moab, and Israel fought against them.
10 “Then they cried out to the Lord: ‘We have sinned because we have forsaken the Lord and have served[d] the Baals[e] and the Ashtaroth.[f] Now deliver us from the hand of our enemies, and we will serve[g] you.’ 11 Then the Lord sent Jerubbaal,[h] Barak,[i] Jephthah, and Samuel and he delivered you from the hand of your enemies on every side, so that you lived securely. 12 But when you saw that Nahash, king of the Ammonites, was coming to fight you, you told me, ‘No, let a king rule over us instead,’ even though the Lord your God was your king.
13 “Now, here is the king you have chosen, the one whom you asked for. See, the Lord has appointed a king over you. 14 If you fear the Lord, serve him, obey him, and don’t rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then both you and the king who rules over you will truly follow the Lord your God. 15 But if you don’t obey the Lord and rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then the Lord will turn against you as he did against your ancestors.[j]
16 “Now then, stand up and see this great thing that the Lord is about to do before your eyes. 17 Is it not the wheat harvest today? I’ll call upon the Lord, and he will send thunder and rain. Then you will know and understand that you have done a great evil in the sight of the Lord by asking for a king for yourselves.” 18 Samuel called upon the Lord that same day, and the Lord sent thunder and rain. So all the people greatly feared the Lord and Samuel.
19 Then all the people told Samuel, “Pray to the Lord your God for your servants, so that we don’t die, because we made all our sins worse by asking for a king for ourselves.”
20 Samuel told all the people, “Don’t be afraid. You have done all this evil. Yet don’t turn aside from following the Lord, but serve[k] the Lord with all your heart. 21 Don’t turn aside after useless things[l] that cannot profit or deliver because they’re useless. 22 Indeed, the Lord won’t abandon His people for the sake of His great name, for the Lord desires to make you a people for himself. 23 Now as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you. I’ll also instruct you in the way that is good and right. 24 Only, fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart. Indeed, consider what great things he has done for you. 25 But if you persist in doing evil, both you and your king will be swept away.”
Footnotes
- 1 Samuel 12:2 I.e. leading you
- 1 Samuel 12:2 I.e. led you
- 1 Samuel 12:3 Lit. From whose hand did I accept a bribe to blind my eyes
- 1 Samuel 12:10 Or worshipped
- 1 Samuel 12:10 I.e. images representing the Canaanite storm god
- 1 Samuel 12:10 I.e. trees or other symbols representing the Canaanite deity Asherah
- 1 Samuel 12:10 Or worship
- 1 Samuel 12:11 I.e. Gideon
- 1 Samuel 12:11 So LXX and Syr; MT reads Bedan
- 1 Samuel 12:15 Lit. and against your ancestors
- 1 Samuel 12:20 Or worship
- 1 Samuel 12:21 I.e. idols or false gods
1 Samuel 12
Louis Segond
12 Samuel dit à tout Israël: Voici, j'ai écouté votre voix dans tout ce que vous m'avez dit, et j'ai établi un roi sur vous.
2 Et maintenant, voici le roi qui marchera devant vous. Pour moi, je suis vieux, j'ai blanchi, et mes fils sont avec vous; j'ai marché à votre tête, depuis ma jeunesse jusqu'à ce jour.
3 Me voici! Rendez témoignage contre moi, en présence de l'Éternel et en présence de son oint. De qui ai-je pris le boeuf et de qui ai-je pris l'âne? Qui ai-je opprimé, et qui ai-je traité durement? De qui ai-je reçu un présent, pour fermer les yeux sur lui? Je vous le rendrai.
4 Ils répondirent: Tu ne nous as point opprimés, et tu ne nous as point traités durement, et tu n'as rien reçu de la main de personne.
5 Il leur dit encore: L'Éternel est témoin contre vous, et son oint est témoin, en ce jour, que vous n'avez rien trouvé dans mes mains. Et ils répondirent: Ils en sont témoins.
6 Alors Samuel dit au peuple: C'est l'Éternel qui a établi Moïse et Aaron, et qui a fait monter vos pères du pays d'Égypte.
7 Maintenant, présentez-vous, et je vous jugerai devant l'Éternel sur tous les bienfaits que l'Éternel vous a accordés, à vous et à vos pères.
8 Après que Jacob fut venu en Égypte, vos pères crièrent à l'Éternel, et l'Éternel envoya Moïse et Aaron, qui firent sortir vos pères d'Égypte et les firent habiter dans ce lieu.
9 Mais ils oublièrent l'Éternel, leur Dieu; et ils les vendit entre les mains de Sisera, chef de l'armée de Hatsor, entre les mains des Philistins, et entre les mains du roi de Moab, qui leur firent la guerre.
10 Ils crièrent encore à l'Éternel, et dirent: Nous avons péché, car nous avons abandonné l'Éternel, et nous avons servi les Baals et les Astartés; délivre-nous maintenant de la main de nos ennemis, et nous te servirons.
11 Et l'Éternel envoya Jerubbaal, Bedan, Jephthé et Samuel, et il vous délivra de la main de vos ennemis qui vous entouraient, et vous demeurâtes en sécurité.
12 Puis, voyant que Nachasch, roi des fils d'Ammon, marchait contre vous, vous m'avez dit: Non! mais un roi régnera sur nous. Et cependant l'Éternel, votre Dieu, était votre roi.
13 Voici donc le roi que vous avez choisi, que vous avez demandé; voici, l'Éternel a mis sur vous un roi.
14 Si vous craignez l'Éternel, si vous le servez, si vous obéissez à sa voix, et si vous n'êtes point rebelles à la parole de l'Éternel, vous vous attacherez à l'Éternel, votre Dieu, vous et le roi qui règne sur vous.
15 Mais si vous n'obéissez pas à la voix de l'Éternel, et si vous êtes rebelles à la parole de l'Éternel, la main de l'Éternel sera contre vous, comme elle a été contre vos pères.
16 Attendez encore ici, et voyez le prodige que l'Éternel va opérer sous vos yeux.
17 Ne sommes-nous pas à la moisson des blés? J'invoquerai l'Éternel, et il enverra du tonnerre et de la pluie. Sachez alors et voyez combien vous avez eu tort aux yeux de l'Éternel de demander pour vous un roi.
18 Samuel invoqua l'Éternel, et l'Éternel envoya ce même jour du tonnerre et de la pluie. Tout le peuple eut une grande crainte de l'Éternel et de Samuel.
19 Et tout le peuple dit à Samuel: Prie l'Éternel, ton Dieu, pour tes serviteurs, afin que nous ne mourions pas; car nous avons ajouté à tous nos péchés le tort de demander pour nous un roi.
20 Samuel dit au peuple: N'ayez point de crainte! Vous avez fait tout ce mal; mais ne vous détournez pas de l'Éternel, et servez l'Éternel de tout votre coeur.
21 Ne vous en détournez pas; sinon, vous iriez après des choses de néant, qui n'apportent ni profit ni délivrance, parce que ce sont des choses de néant.
22 L'Éternel n'abandonnera point son peuple, à cause de son grand nom, car l'Éternel a résolu de faire de vous son peuple.
23 Loin de moi aussi de pécher contre l'Éternel, de cesser de prier pour vous! Je vous enseignerai le bon et le droit chemin.
24 Craignez seulement l'Éternel, et servez-le fidèlement de tout votre coeur; car voyez quelle puissance il déploie parmi vous.
25 Mais si vous faites le mal, vous périrez, vous et votre roi.
1 Samuel 12
1599 Geneva Bible
12 1 Samuel declaring to the people his integrity, reproveth their ingratitude. 19 God by miracle causeth the people to confess their sin. 20 Samuel exhorteth the people to follow the Lord.
1 Samuel then said unto all Israel, Behold, I have [a]hearkened unto your voice in all that ye said unto me, and have appointed a King over you.
2 Now therefore behold, your King walketh [b]before you, and I am old and gray headed, and behold, my sons are with you: and I have walked before you from my childhood unto this day.
3 Behold, here I am: bear record of me before the Lord and before his anointed. [c]Whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I done wrong to? or whom have I hurt? or of whose hand have I received any bribe, to blind mine eyes therewith, and I will restore it you?
4 Then they said, Thou hast done us no wrong, nor hast hurt us, neither hast thou taken ought of any man’s hand.
5 And he said unto them, The Lord is witness against you, and his [d]Anointed is witness this day, that ye have found nought in mine hands. And they answered, He is witness.
6 Then Samuel said unto the people, It is the Lord that [e]made Moses and Aaron, and that brought your fathers out of the land of Egypt.
7 Now therefore stand still, that I may reason with you before the Lord according to all the [f]righteousness of the Lord, which he showed to you and to your fathers.
8 (A)After that Jacob was come into Egypt, and your fathers cried unto the Lord, then the Lord (B)sent Moses and Aaron which brought your fathers out of Egypt, and made them dwell in this place.
9 (C)And when they forgot the Lord their God, he sold them into the hand of Sisera [g]captain of the host of Hazor, and into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab, and they fought against them.
10 And they cried unto the Lord, and said, We have sinned, because we have forsaken the Lord, and have served Baal and Ashtoreth. Now therefore deliver us out of the hands of our enemies, and we will serve thee.
11 Therefore the Lord sent Jerubbaal [h]and Bedan and (D)Jephthah, and (E)Samuel, and delivered you out of the hands of your enemies on every side, and ye dwelled safe.
12 Notwithstanding when you saw, that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon came against you, ye said unto me, [i]No, but a king shall reign over us: when yet the Lord your God was your King.
13 Now therefore behold the King whom ye have chosen, and whom ye have desired: lo therefore, the Lord hath set a King over you.
14 If ye will fear the Lord and serve him, and hear his voice, and not disobey the word of the Lord, both ye, and the king that reigneth over you, shall [j]follow the Lord your God.
15 But if ye will not obey the voice of the Lord, but disobey the Lord’s mouth, then shall the hand of the Lord be upon you, and on your [k]fathers.
16 Now also stand and see this great thing which the Lord will do before your eyes.
17 Is it not now wheat harvest? I will call unto the Lord, and he shall send thunder and rain, that ye may perceive and see, how that your wickedness is [l]great, which ye have done in the sight of the Lord in asking you a king.
18 Then Samuel called unto the Lord, and the Lord sent thunder and rain the same day: and all the people feared the Lord and Samuel exceedingly.
19 And all the people said unto Samuel, Pray for thy servants unto the Lord thy God, that we die not: for we have sinned in asking us a King, beside [m]all our other sins.
20 ¶ And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not, (ye have indeed done all this wickedness, [n]yet depart not from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart,
21 Neither turn ye back: for that should be after vain things which cannot profit you, nor deliver you, for they are but vanity.)
22 For the Lord will not forsake his people for his great Name’s sake: because it hath pleased the Lord to make you [o]his people.
23 Moreover God forbid, that I should sin against the Lord, and cease praying for you, but I will show you the good and right way.
24 Therefore fear you the Lord, and serve him in the truth with all your [p]hearts, and consider how great things he hath done for you.
25 But if ye do wickedly, ye shall perish, both ye and your King.
Footnotes
- 1 Samuel 12:1 I have granted your petition.
- 1 Samuel 12:2 To govern you in peace and war.
- 1 Samuel 12:3 God would that this confession should be a pattern for all them that have any charge or office.
- 1 Samuel 12:5 Your King, who is anointed by the commandment of the Lord.
- 1 Samuel 12:6 Or, exalted.
- 1 Samuel 12:7 Or, benefits.
- 1 Samuel 12:9 Captain of Jabin’s host, King of Hazor.
- 1 Samuel 12:11 That is, Samson, Judg. 13:25.
- 1 Samuel 12:12 Leaving God to seek the help of man, 1 Sam. 8:5.
- 1 Samuel 12:14 Ye shall be preserved as they that follow the Lord’s will.
- 1 Samuel 12:15 Meaning, the governors.
- 1 Samuel 12:17 In that ye have forsaken him, who hath all power in his hand, for a mortal man.
- 1 Samuel 12:19 Not only at other times, but now chiefly.
- 1 Samuel 12:20 He showeth that there is no sin so great, but it shall be forgiven, if the sinner turn again to God.
- 1 Samuel 12:22 Of his free mercy, and not of your merits, and therefore he will not forsake you.
- 1 Samuel 12:24 Unfeignedly, and without hypocrisy.
1 Samuel 12
King James Version
12 And Samuel said unto all Israel, Behold, I have hearkened unto your voice in all that ye said unto me, and have made a king over you.
2 And now, behold, the king walketh before you: and I am old and grayheaded; and, behold, my sons are with you: and I have walked before you from my childhood unto this day.
3 Behold, here I am: witness against me before the Lord, and before his anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it you.
4 And they said, Thou hast not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither hast thou taken ought of any man's hand.
5 And he said unto them, The Lord is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that ye have not found ought in my hand. And they answered, He is witness.
6 And Samuel said unto the people, It is the Lord that advanced Moses and Aaron, and that brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt.
7 Now therefore stand still, that I may reason with you before the Lord of all the righteous acts of the Lord, which he did to you and to your fathers.
8 When Jacob was come into Egypt, and your fathers cried unto the Lord, then the Lord sent Moses and Aaron, which brought forth your fathers out of Egypt, and made them dwell in this place.
9 And when they forgat the Lord their God, he sold them into the hand of Sisera, captain of the host of Hazor, and into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab, and they fought against them.
10 And they cried unto the Lord, and said, We have sinned, because we have forsaken the Lord, and have served Baalim and Ashtaroth: but now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, and we will serve thee.
11 And the Lord sent Jerubbaal, and Bedan, and Jephthah, and Samuel, and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side, and ye dwelled safe.
12 And when ye saw that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon came against you, ye said unto me, Nay; but a king shall reign over us: when the Lord your God was your king.
13 Now therefore behold the king whom ye have chosen, and whom ye have desired! and, behold, the Lord hath set a king over you.
14 If ye will fear the Lord, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then shall both ye and also the king that reigneth over you continue following the Lord your God:
15 But if ye will not obey the voice of the Lord, but rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then shall the hand of the Lord be against you, as it was against your fathers.
16 Now therefore stand and see this great thing, which the Lord will do before your eyes.
17 Is it not wheat harvest to day? I will call unto the Lord, and he shall send thunder and rain; that ye may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which ye have done in the sight of the Lord, in asking you a king.
18 So Samuel called unto the Lord; and the Lord sent thunder and rain that day: and all the people greatly feared the Lord and Samuel.
19 And all the people said unto Samuel, Pray for thy servants unto the Lord thy God, that we die not: for we have added unto all our sins this evil, to ask us a king.
20 And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not: ye have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart;
21 And turn ye not aside: for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain.
22 For the Lord will not forsake his people for his great name's sake: because it hath pleased the Lord to make you his people.
23 Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:
24 Only fear the Lord, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you.
25 But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both ye and your king.
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