[1] 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. [2] 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. [3]
Here I am: witness against me before Yahweh, 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 ransom to blind my
eyes therewith? and I will restore it 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, Yahweh 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 Yahweh who
appointed Moses and Aaron, and that brought your fathers up out of the land
of Egypt. [7] Now therefore stand still, that I may plead with you before
Yahweh concerning all the righteous acts of Yahweh, which he did to you and
to your fathers. [8] When Jacob was come into Egypt, and your fathers cried
to Yahweh, then Yahweh sent Moses and Aaron, who brought forth your fathers
out of Egypt, and made them to dwell in this place. [9] But they forgot
Yahweh their God; and he sold them into the hand of Sisera, captain of the
host of Hazor, and into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of
the king of Moab; and they fought against them. [10] They cried to Yahweh,
and said, We have sinned, because we have forsaken Yahweh, 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] Yahweh sent Jerubbaal, and Bedan, 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 children of Ammon came against you, you said to me, No, but a king
shall reign over us; when Yahweh your God was your king. [13] Now therefore
see the king whom you have chosen, and whom you have asked for: and,
behold, Yahweh has set a king over you. [14] If you will fear Yahweh, and
serve him, and listen to his voice, and not rebel against the commandment
of Yahweh, and both you and also the king who reigns over you be followers
of Yahweh your God, [well]: [15] but if you will not listen to the voice of
Yahweh, but rebel against the commandment of Yahweh, then will the hand of
Yahweh be against you, as it was against your fathers. [16] Now therefore
stand still and see this great thing, which Yahweh will do before your
eyes. [17] Isn`t it wheat harvest today? I will call to Yahweh, 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 Yahweh, in asking you a king.
[18] So Samuel called to Yahweh; and Yahweh sent thunder and rain that day:
and all the people greatly feared Yahweh and Samuel. [19] All the people
said to Samuel, Pray for your servants to Yahweh 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, "Don`t be afraid; you have indeed done all this
evil; yet don`t turn aside from following Yahweh, but serve Yahweh with all
your heart: [21] and don`t turn aside; for [then would you go] after vain
things which can`t profit nor deliver, for they are vain. [22] For Yahweh
will not forsake his people for his great name`s sake, because it has
pleased Yahweh to make you a people to himself. [23] Moreover as for me,
far be it from me that I should sin against Yahweh in ceasing to pray for
you: but I will instruct you in the good and the right way. [24] Only fear
Yahweh, and serve him in truth with all your heart; for consider how great
things he has done for you. [25] But if you shall still do wickedly, you
shall be consumed, both you and your king."
