¹⁷ Is it not wheat harvest^(A) now? I will call^(B) on the Lord to send thunder^(C) and rain.^(D) And you will realize what an evil^(E) thing you did in the eyes of the Lord when you asked for a king.”

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

¹⁹ The people all said to Samuel, “Pray^(H) to the Lord your God for your servants so that we will not die,^(I) 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;^(J) yet do not turn away from the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. ²¹ Do not turn away after useless^(K) idols.^(L) They can do you no good, nor can they rescue you, because they are useless. ²² For the sake^(M) of his great name^(N) the Lord will not reject^(O) his people, because the Lord was pleased to make^(P) you his own. ²³ As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray^(Q) for you. And I will teach^(R) you the way that is good and right. ²⁴ But be sure to fear^(S) the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart;^(T) consider^(U) what great^(V) things he has done for you. ²⁵ Yet if you persist^(W) in doing evil, both you and your king^(X) will perish.”^(Y)