1 Samuel

¹Samuel said to all Israel, 'I have listened to everything you asked of me and have given you a king.'

²'Now you have a king to lead you. As for me, I am old and gray-haired, and my sons are here with you. I have been your leader from the time I was a boy until today.'

³'Here I stand. If I have wronged anyone, let them testify against me before the LORD and before his anointed king. Whose ox or donkey have I taken? Have I cheated or mistreated anyone? Have I ever accepted a bribe? If so, I will make it right.'

⁴They replied, 'You have not wronged us, cheated us, or taken anything from any of us.'

⁵Samuel said, 'The LORD and his anointed one are witnesses today that you have found nothing against me.' 'Yes, he is our witness,' they answered.

⁶Then Samuel said, 'It was the LORD who appointed Moses and Aaron and who brought your ancestors out of Egypt.'

⁷'Now stand here so I may rehearse before the LORD all the righteous acts he has done for you and your ancestors.'

⁸'When Jacob's descendants went to Egypt and they cried out to the LORD, he sent Moses and Aaron, who brought them out and settled them in this land.'

⁹'But when they forgot the LORD their God, he handed them over to Sisera, the commander of Hazor's army, and to the Philistines, and to the king of Moab, and those enemies oppressed them.'

¹⁰'Then they cried out to the LORD and confessed, We have sinned by abandoning the LORD and worshiping the Baals and Ashtoreth idols. Rescue us from our enemies, and we will serve you.'

¹¹'So the LORD sent Jerub-baal, Barak, Jephthah, and Samuel, and rescued you from your enemies on all sides, so you could live in safety.'

¹²'But when you saw that Nahash, king of the Ammonites, was coming against you, you said to me, No — we want a king to rule us. This, even though the LORD your God was already your king.'

¹³'So here is the king you chose, the one you asked for. See — the LORD has set a king over you.'

¹⁴'If you will respect the LORD and serve him and obey his commands, and if you and your king follow the LORD your God, then all will go well for you.'

¹⁵'But if you disobey the LORD and defy his commands, his hand will be against you just as it was against your ancestors.'

¹⁶'Now stand here and watch the great thing the LORD is about to do before your eyes.'

¹⁷'It is wheat harvest time, is it not? Watch — I will call on the LORD to send thunder and rain today, and you will understand what a wicked thing you did in the LORD's sight by asking for a king.'

¹⁸Samuel called out to the LORD, and that same day the LORD sent thunder and rain. All the people were terrified of the LORD and of Samuel.

¹⁹They begged Samuel, 'Pray to the LORD your God for us, so we won't die! We have added to all our other sins by asking for a king.'

²⁰Samuel said, 'Do not be afraid. You have committed this evil, but don't turn away from the LORD. Serve him wholeheartedly.'

²¹'Don't turn to worthless idols that can't help or save you — they are truly useless.'

²²'The LORD will not abandon his people, because that would dishonor his great name. It has pleased the LORD to make you his own people.'

²³'As for me, I would be sinning against the LORD if I stopped praying for you. I will continue teaching you the right way to live.'

²⁴'Only fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart. Consider the great things he has done for you.'

²⁵'But if you continue to do evil, both you and your king will be swept away.'