⁵ Then Samuel said, “Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray to the Lord on your behalf.” ⁶ After they had assembled at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out before the Lord. They fasted on that day, and they confessed^[a] there, “We have sinned against the Lord.” So Samuel led^[b] the people of Israel at Mizpah.

⁷ When the Philistines heard that the Israelites had gathered at Mizpah, the leaders of the Philistines went up against Israel. When the Israelites heard about this, they were afraid of the Philistines. ⁸ The Israelites said to Samuel, “Keep^[c] crying out to the Lord our^[d] God so that he may save us^[e] from the hand of the Philistines!”

⁶ But this request displeased Samuel, for^[a] they said, “Give us a king to lead us.” So Samuel prayed to the Lord.

¹⁷ Is this not the time of the wheat harvest? I will call on the Lord so that he makes it thunder and rain. Realize and see what a great sin you have committed before the Lord by asking for a king for yourselves.”

¹⁹ All the people said to Samuel, “Pray to the Lord your God on behalf of us—your servants—so we won’t die, for we have added to all our sins by asking for a king.”^[a]

²³ As far as I am concerned, far be it from me to sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you! I will instruct you in the way that is good and upright.

¹¹ “I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned away from me and has not done what I told him to do.” Samuel became angry and he cried out to the Lord all that night.