¹⁸ If they are prophets and have the word of the Lord, let them plead^(A) with the Lord Almighty that the articles remaining in the house of the Lord and in the palace of the king of Judah and in Jerusalem not be taken to Babylon.

⁸ They said to Samuel, “Do not stop crying^(A) out to the Lord our God for us, that he may rescue us from the hand of the Philistines.”

²⁴ Then you call^(A) on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord.^(B) The god who answers by fire^(C)—he is God.”

Then all the people said, “What you say is good.”

²³ As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray^(A) for you. And I will teach^(B) you the way that is good and right.

¹⁹ The people all said to Samuel, “Pray^(A) to the Lord your God for your servants so that we will not die,^(B) for we have added to all our other sins the evil of asking for a king.”

¹⁶ Therefore confess your sins^(A) to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.^(B) The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.^(C)

¹⁷ Elijah was a human being, even as we are.^(D) He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years.^{(E) 18} Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.^(F)

⁹ “Now plead with God to be gracious to us. With such offerings^(A) from your hands, will he accept^(B) you?”—says the Lord Almighty.

³⁰ “I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall^(A) and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one.^(B)