1 Samuel Chapter 12

1 Samuel 12

1.  And Samuel said * unto all Israel, Behold, I have hearkened * unto your voice in all that ye said * unto me, and have made * a king over you.

2.  And now, behold, the king walketh * before you: and I am old * and grayheaded * ; and, behold, my sons are with you: and I have walked * before you from my childhood unto this day.

3.  Behold, here I am: witness * against me before the LORD, and before his anointed: whose ox have I taken * ? or whose ass have I taken * ? or whom have I defrauded * ? whom have I oppressed * ? or of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind * mine eyes therewith? and I will restore * it you.

4.  And they said * , Thou hast not defrauded * us, nor oppressed * us, neither hast thou taken * ought of any man's hand.

5.  And he said * unto them, The LORD is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that ye have not found * ought in my hand. And they answered * , He is witness.

6.  And Samuel said * unto the people, It is the LORD that advanced * Moses and Aaron, and that brought * your fathers up * out of the land of Egypt.

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

8.  When Jacob was come * into Egypt,and your fathers cried * unto the LORD,then the LORD sent * Moses and Aaron, which brought forth * your fathers out of Egypt, and made them dwell * in this place.

9.  And when they forgat * the LORD their God, 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.  And they cried * unto the LORD, and said * , We have sinned * , because we have forsaken * the LORD, and have served * Baalim and Ashtaroth: but now deliver * us out of the hand of our enemies * , and we will serve * thee.

11.  And the LORD sent * Jerubbaal,and Bedan, and Jephthah, and Samuel, and delivered * you out of the hand of your enemies * on every side, and ye dwelled * safe.

12.  And when ye saw * that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon came * against you, ye said * unto me, Nay; but a king shall reign * over us: when the LORD your God was your king.

13.  Now therefore behold the king whom ye have chosen * , and whom ye have desired * ! and, behold, the LORD hath set * a king over you.

14.  If ye will fear * the LORD, and serve * him, and obey * his voice,and not rebel * against the commandment of the LORD, then shall both ye and also the king that reigneth * over you continue following the LORD your God:

15.  But if ye will not obey * the voice of the LORD, but rebel * against the commandment of the LORD, then shall the hand of the LORD be against you, as it was against your fathers.

16.  Now therefore stand * and see * this great thing, which the LORD will do * before your eyes.

17.  Is it not wheat harvest to day? I will call * unto the LORD, and he shall send * thunder and rain; that ye may perceive * and see * that your wickedness is great, which ye have done * in the sight of the LORD, in asking * you a king.

18.  So Samuel called * unto the LORD; and the LORD sent * thunder and rain that day: and all the people greatly feared * the LORD and Samuel.

19.  And all the people said * unto Samuel, Pray * for thy servants unto the LORD thy God, that we die * not: for we have added * unto all our sins this evil, to ask * us a king.

20.  And Samuel said * unto the people, Fear * not: ye have done * all this wickedness: yet turn not aside * from following the LORD, but serve * the LORD with all your heart;

21.  And turn ye not aside * : for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot profit * nor deliver * ; for they are vain.

22.  For the LORD will not forsake * his people for his great name's sake: because it hath pleased * the LORD to make * you his people.

23.  Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin * against the LORD in ceasing * to pray * for you: but I will teach * you the good and the right way:

24.  Only fear * the LORD, and serve * him in truth with all your heart: for consider * how great things he hath done * for you.

25.  But if ye shall still * do wickedly * , ye shall be consumed * , both ye and your king.