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

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

¹⁹ The people all said to Samuel, “Pray^(J) to the Lord your God for your servants so that we will not die,^(K) 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;^(L) yet do not turn away from the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. ²¹ Do not turn away after useless^(M) idols.^(N) They can do you no good, nor can they rescue you, because they are useless. ²² For the sake^(O) of his great name^(P) the Lord will not reject^(Q) his people, because the Lord was pleased to make^(R) you his own. ²³ As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray^(S) for you. And I will teach^(T) you the way that is good and right. ²⁴ But be sure to fear^(U) the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart;^(V) consider^(W) what great^(X) things he has done for you.

¹⁶ And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.

God is love.^(A) Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.^{(B) 17} This is how love is made complete^(C) among us so that we will have confidence^(D) on the day of judgment:^(E) In this world we are like Jesus. ¹⁸ There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear,^(F) because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

¹⁹ We love because he first loved us.^(G)