1 Samuel 12

1 Samuel said to all Israel, "Look, I have listened to your voice in all that you said to me, and have made a king over you.

2 Now, look, the king walks before you; and I am old and gray-headed; and look, my sons are with you: and I have walked before you from my youth to this day.

3 Here I am. Testify against me before Jehovah, and before his anointed. Whose ox have I taken, or whose donkey have I taken, or whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed, or from whose hand have I taken a bribe, or a shoe? Testify against me, and I will restore it to you."

4 They said, "You have not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither have you taken anything of any man's hand."

5 He said to them, "Jehovah is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that you have not found anything in my hand." They said, "He is witness."

6 Samuel said to the people, "It is Jehovah who appointed Moses and Aaron, and that brought your fathers up out of Egypt.

7 Now therefore stand still, that I may plead with you before Jehovah concerning all the righteous acts of Jehovah, which he did to you and to your fathers.

8 "When Jacob went into Egypt, and the Egyptians oppressed them, and your fathers cried to Jehovah, then Jehovah sent Moses and Aaron, who brought your fathers out of Egypt, and made them to dwell in this place.

9 "But they forgot Jehovah their God; and he sold them into the hand of Sisera, captain of the army 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 to Jehovah, and they said, 'We have sinned, because we have forsaken Jehovah, and have served the Baals and the Ashtaroth: but now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, and we will serve you.'

11 Jehovah sent Jerubbaal, and Barak, and Jephthah, and Samuel, and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side; and you lived in safety.

12 "When you saw that Nahash the king of the people of Ammon came against you, you said to me, 'No, but a king shall reign over us;' when Jehovah your God was your king.

13 Now therefore see the king whom you have chosen, and whom you have asked for: and look, Jehovah has set a king over you.

14 If you will fear Jehovah, and serve him, and listen to his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of Jehovah, and both you and also the king who reigns over you are followers of Jehovah your God, then he will rescue you.

15 But if you will not listen to the voice of Jehovah, but rebel against the commandment of Jehovah, then the hand of Jehovah will be against you, and against your king to destroy you.

16 "Now therefore stand still and see this great thing, which Jehovah will do before your eyes.

17 Isn't it wheat harvest today? I will call to Jehovah, that he may send thunder and rain; and you shall know and see that your wickedness is great, which you have done in the sight of Jehovah, in asking for a king."

18 So Samuel called to Jehovah; and Jehovah sent thunder and rain that day: and all the people greatly feared Jehovah and Samuel.

19 All the people said to Samuel, "Pray for your servants to Jehovah your God, that we not die; for we have added to all our sins this evil, to ask us a king."

20 Samuel said to the people, "Do not be afraid. You have indeed done all this evil; yet do not turn aside from following Jehovah, but serve Jehovah with all your heart.

21 Do not turn aside to go after vain things which can't profit nor deliver, for they are vain.

22 For Jehovah will not forsake his people for his great name's sake, because it has pleased Jehovah to make you a people to himself.

23 Moreover as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against Jehovah in ceasing to pray for you: but I will instruct you in the good and the right way.

24 Only fear Jehovah, and serve him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things he has done for you.

25 But if you shall still do wickedly, you shall be swept away, both you and your king."