1 Samuel 12:19-24

12:19 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.” ¹ 

12:20 Then Samuel said to the people, “Don’t be afraid. You have indeed sinned. ²  However, don’t turn aside from the Lord. Serve the Lord with all your heart. 12:21 You should not turn aside after empty things that can’t profit and can’t deliver, since they are empty. ³  12:22 The Lord will not abandon his people because he wants to uphold his great reputation. ⁴  The Lord was pleased to make you his own people. 12:23 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. 12:24 However, fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart. Just look at the great things he has done for you!

[12:19]  ¹ tn Heb “for we have added to all our sins an evil [thing] by asking for ourselves a king.”

[12:20]  ² tn Heb “you have done all this evil.”

[12:21]  ³ tn Or “useless” (so NIV, NRSV, NLT); NAB “nothing”; NASB “futile”; TEV “are not real.”

[12:22]  ⁴ tn Heb “on account of his great name.”