12:1 And Samuel said to all Israel, Behold, I have listened to your* voice in all that you* said to me and have made a king over you*. 12:2 And now, behold, the king walks before you*. And I am old and gray headed, and behold, my sons are with you*. And I have walked before you* from my youth to this day.
12:3 Here I am. Witness 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 of whose hand have I taken a bribe to blind my eyes with it? And I will restore it to you*.
12:4 And they said, You have not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither have you taken anything of any man's hand.
12:5 And 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.
And they said, He is witness.
12:6 And Samuel said to the people, It is Jehovah who appointed Moses and Aaron and who brought your* fathers up out of the land of Egypt. 12:7 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.
12:8 When Jacob had come into Egypt and your* fathers cried to Jehovah, then Jehovah sent Moses and Aaron who brought out your* fathers out of Egypt and made them to dwell in this place.
12:9 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. 12:10 And they cried to Jehovah and said, We have sinned because we have forsaken Jehovah and have served the Baals {Baalim} and the Ashtaroth, but now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies and we will serve you.
12:11 And Jehovah sent Jerubbaal and Bedan and Jephthah and Samuel and delivered you* out of the hand of your* enemies on every side and you* dwelt in safety.
12:12 And when you* saw that Nahash the king of the sons of Ammon came against you*, you* said to me, No, but a king will reign over us, when Jehovah your* God was your* king.
12:13 Now therefore behold the king whom you* have chosen and whom you* have asked for. And behold, Jehovah has set a king over you*. 12:14 If you* will fear Jehovah and serve him and listen to his voice and not rebel against the commandment of Jehovah, then both you* and also the king who reigns over you* will be followers of Jehovah your* God.12:15 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* as it was against your* fathers.
12:16 Now therefore stand still and see this great thing, which Jehovah will do before your* eyes. 12:17Is it not wheat harvest today? I will call to Jehovah that he may send thunder and rain and you* will know and see that your* wickedness is great, which you* have done in the sight of Jehovah in asking for a king for you*.
12:18 So Samuel called to Jehovah and Jehovah sent thunder and rain that day. And all the people greatly feared Jehovah and Samuel. 12:19 And all the people said to Samuel, Pray for your servants to Jehovah your God that we do not die, because we have added to all our sins this evil, to ask a king for us.
12:20 And Samuel said to the people, Do not fear. You* have indeed done all this evil, yet do not turn aside from following Jehovah, but serve Jehovah with all your* heart. 12:21 And do not turn not aside after vain things which cannot profit nor deliver, because they are vain.
12:22 Because Jehovah will not forsake his people for his great name's sake, because it has pleased Jehovah to make you* a people to himself. 12:23 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.
12:24 Only fear Jehovah and serve him in truth with all your* heart, because consider what great things he has done for you*. 12:25 But if you* will still do wickedly, you* will be consumed, both you* and your* king.