1 Samuel|strong="H8050" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" all|strong="H3605" Israel|strong="H3478": “I|strong="H0834" have|strong="H0834" done|strong="H3605" everything|strong="H3605" you|strong="H0834" wanted me|strong="H0413" to|strong="H0413" do|strong="H3605". I|strong="H0834" have|strong="H0834" put a|strong="H8085" king|strong="H4428" over|strong="H5921" you|strong="H0834".
2 Now|strong="H6258" you|strong="H6440" have|strong="H1121" a|strong="H2088" king|strong="H4428" to|strong="H5704" lead|strong="H1980" you|strong="H6440". I|strong="H0589" am|strong="H0589" old|strong="H1121" and|strong="H1980" gray|strong="H7867", but|strong="H2009" my|strong="H6258" sons|strong="H1121" are|strong="H3117" here|strong="H2009" with|strong="H0854" you|strong="H6440". I|strong="H0589" have|strong="H1121" been|strong="H6258" your|strong="H6440" leader since|strong="H3117" I|strong="H0589" was|strong="H4428" young|strong="H1121".
3 Here|strong="H2005" I|strong="H2005" am|strong="H3068". If|strong="H2005" I|strong="H2005" have|strong="H5869" done|strong="H3027" anything wrong, you|strong="H7725" must|strong="H0853" tell these|strong="H3947" things to|strong="H7725" the|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068" and|strong="H3068" his|strong="H3947" chosen|strong="H3947" king. Did I|strong="H2005" steal|strong="H3947" anyone’s ox|strong="H7794" or|strong="H2543" donkey|strong="H2543"? Did I|strong="H2005" hurt or|strong="H2543" cheat anyone|strong="H2005"? Did I|strong="H2005" ever|strong="H7725" take|strong="H3947" money, or|strong="H2543" even|strong="H0853" a|strong="H3947" pair of|strong="H3068" sandals, to|strong="H7725" do|strong="H4310" something wrong? If|strong="H2005" I|strong="H2005" did any of|strong="H3068" these|strong="H3947" things, I|strong="H2005" will|strong="H3068" make|strong="H7725" it|strong="H7725" right|strong="H5869".”
4 The|strong="H0559" Israelites answered|strong="H0559", “No|strong="H3808", you|strong="H3808" never|strong="H3808" did|strong="H3808" anything|strong="H3972" bad to|strong="H0559" us|strong="H0559". You|strong="H3808" never|strong="H3808" cheated us|strong="H0559" or|strong="H3808" took|strong="H3947" things|strong="H3808" from|strong="H0376" us|strong="H0559".”
5 Samuel|strong="H0559" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0559" Israelites|strong="H2088", “The|strong="H0559" LORD|strong="H3068" and|strong="H3068" his|strong="H3068" chosen|strong="H4899" king are|strong="H3117" witnesses|strong="H5707" today|strong="H3117". They|strong="H3588" heard|strong="H3588" what|strong="H2088" you|strong="H3588" said|strong="H0559"—that|strong="H3588" you|strong="H3588" found|strong="H4672" nothing|strong="H3808" wrong with|strong="H0413" me|strong="H0413".” The|strong="H0559" people|strong="H3808" answered|strong="H0559", “Yes|strong="H3588", the|strong="H0559" Lord|strong="H3068" is|strong="H3068" witness|strong="H5707"!”
6 Then|strong="H0853" Samuel|strong="H8050" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0853" people|strong="H5971", “The|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068" has|strong="H3068" seen what|strong="H0834" happened. He|strong="H0834" is|strong="H0834" the|strong="H0853" one|strong="H0834" who|strong="H0834" chose|strong="H6213" Moses|strong="H4872" and|strong="H3068" Aaron|strong="H0175" and|strong="H3068" brought|strong="H5927" your|strong="H3068" ancestors|strong="H0001" out|strong="H0413" of|strong="H0776" Egypt|strong="H4714".
7 Now|strong="H6258", stand|strong="H3320" there|strong="H3068". I|strong="H0834" will|strong="H3068" accuse you|strong="H0834" before|strong="H6440" the|strong="H3605" LORD|strong="H3068" and|strong="H3068" I|strong="H0834" will|strong="H3068" tell|strong="H3605" you|strong="H0834" about|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" good things|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" LORD|strong="H3068" did|strong="H6213" for|strong="H3605" you|strong="H0834" and|strong="H3068" your|strong="H3068" ancestors|strong="H0001".
8 “Jacob|strong="H3290" went|strong="H3318" to|strong="H0413" Egypt|strong="H4714". Later, the|strong="H0853" Egyptians|strong="H4714" made|strong="H0834" life hard for|strong="H0413" his|strong="H3068" descendants|strong="H3318". So|strong="H7971" they|strong="H0834" cried|strong="H2199" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068" for|strong="H0413" help. The|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068" sent|strong="H7971" Moses|strong="H4872" and|strong="H0935" Aaron|strong="H0175", and|strong="H0935" they|strong="H0834" took|strong="H3318" your|strong="H3068" ancestors|strong="H0001" out|strong="H3318" of|strong="H3068" Egypt|strong="H4714" and|strong="H0935" led|strong="H3318" them|strong="H0413" to|strong="H0413" live|strong="H3427" in|strong="H3427" this|strong="H2088" place|strong="H4725".
9 “But|strong="H4428" your|strong="H3068" ancestors forgot|strong="H7911" the|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068" their|strong="H3068" God|strong="H0430". So|strong="H3027" he|strong="H0430" let them|strong="H0853" become the|strong="H0853" slaves of|strong="H4428" Sisera|strong="H5516", the|strong="H0853" commander|strong="H8269" of|strong="H4428" the|strong="H0853" army|strong="H6635" at|strong="H3068" Hazor|strong="H2674". Then|strong="H0853" the|strong="H0853" Lord|strong="H3068" let them|strong="H0853" become the|strong="H0853" slaves of|strong="H4428" the|strong="H0853" Philistines|strong="H6430" and|strong="H3068" the|strong="H0853" king|strong="H4428" of|strong="H4428" Moab|strong="H4124". They|strong="H3068" all fought|strong="H3898" against|strong="H3027" your|strong="H3068" ancestors.
10 But|strong="H3588" your|strong="H3068" ancestors cried|strong="H2199" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068" for|strong="H3588" help. They|strong="H3588" said|strong="H0559", ‘We|strong="H3588" have|strong="H3068" sinned|strong="H2398". We|strong="H3588" left|strong="H5800" the|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068", and|strong="H3068" we|strong="H3588" served|strong="H5647" the|strong="H0853" false gods Baal|strong="H1168" and|strong="H3068" Ashtoreth. But|strong="H3588" now|strong="H6258" save|strong="H5337" us|strong="H0413" from|strong="H3027" our|strong="H3068" enemies|strong="H0341", and|strong="H3068" we|strong="H3588" will|strong="H3068" serve|strong="H5647" you|strong="H3588".’
11 “So|strong="H7971" the|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068" sent|strong="H7971" Gideon|strong="H7971", Barak|strong="H0917", Jephthah|strong="H3316", and|strong="H3068" Samuel|strong="H8050". He|strong="H3068" saved|strong="H5337" you|strong="H7971" from|strong="H3027" your|strong="H3068" enemies|strong="H0341" around|strong="H5439" you|strong="H7971", and|strong="H3068" you|strong="H7971" lived|strong="H3427" in|strong="H3427" safety|strong="H0983".
12 But|strong="H3588" then|strong="H0935" you|strong="H3588" saw|strong="H7200" King|strong="H4428" Nahash|strong="H5176" of|strong="H1121" the|strong="H0559" Ammonites|strong="H5983" coming|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0559" fight against|strong="H5921" you|strong="H3588". You|strong="H3588" said|strong="H0559", ‘No|strong="H3808", we|strong="H3588" want a|strong="H3588" king|strong="H4428" to|strong="H0559" rule|strong="H4428" over|strong="H5921" us|strong="H5921"!’ You|strong="H3588" said|strong="H0559" that|strong="H3588", even|strong="H3588" though|strong="H3588" the|strong="H0559" LORD|strong="H3068" your|strong="H3068" God|strong="H0430" was|strong="H3068" already your|strong="H3068" king|strong="H4428".
13 Now|strong="H6258", here|strong="H2009" is|strong="H0834" the|strong="H0834" king|strong="H4428" you|strong="H0834" chose|strong="H0977". The|strong="H0834" LORD|strong="H3068" put|strong="H5414" this|strong="H6258" king|strong="H4428" over|strong="H5921" you|strong="H0834".
14 You|strong="H0859" must|strong="H0853" fear|strong="H3372" and|strong="H3068" respect|strong="H5921" the|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068". You|strong="H0859" must|strong="H0853" serve|strong="H5647" him|strong="H5921" and|strong="H3068" obey|strong="H8085" his|strong="H5921" commands. You|strong="H0859" must|strong="H0853" not|strong="H3808" turn|strong="H1961" against|strong="H5921" him|strong="H5921". You|strong="H0859" and|strong="H3068" the|strong="H0853" king|strong="H4428" ruling over|strong="H5921" you|strong="H0859" must|strong="H0853" follow|strong="H0310" the|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068" your|strong="H3068" God|strong="H0430". If|strong="H0518" you|strong="H0859" do|strong="H5647", God|strong="H0430" will|strong="H3068" save you|strong="H0859".
15 But|strong="H0518" if|strong="H0518" you|strong="H0518" don’t|strong="H3808" listen|strong="H8085" to|strong="H1961" the|strong="H8085" LORD|strong="H3068", if|strong="H0518" you|strong="H0518" refuse|strong="H3808" to|strong="H1961" do|strong="H0518" what|strong="H6963" the|strong="H8085" LORD|strong="H3068" says|strong="H6310", he|strong="H0518" will|strong="H3068" be|strong="H1961" against|strong="H0854" you|strong="H0518". The|strong="H8085" LORD|strong="H3068" will|strong="H3068" destroy you|strong="H0518" and|strong="H3068" your|strong="H3068" king.
16 “Now|strong="H6258" stand|strong="H3320" still|strong="H1571" and|strong="H3068" see|strong="H7200" the|strong="H0853" great|strong="H1419" thing|strong="H1697" the|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068" will|strong="H3068" do|strong="H6213" before|strong="H5869" your|strong="H3068" eyes|strong="H5869".
17 Now|strong="H3117" is|strong="H0834" the|strong="H0834" time|strong="H3117" of|strong="H4428" the|strong="H0834" wheat|strong="H2406" harvest|strong="H7105". I|strong="H0834" will|strong="H3068" pray|strong="H7592" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0834" LORD|strong="H3068" and|strong="H3068" ask|strong="H7592" him|strong="H0413" to|strong="H0413" send|strong="H5414" thunder|strong="H6963" and|strong="H3068" rain|strong="H4306". Then|strong="H5414" you|strong="H0834" will|strong="H3068" know|strong="H3045" you|strong="H0834" did|strong="H6213" a|strong="H3588" very|strong="H7227" bad|strong="H7451" thing|strong="H3588" against|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0834" LORD|strong="H3068" when|strong="H3588" you|strong="H0834" asked|strong="H7592" for|strong="H3588" a|strong="H3588" king|strong="H4428".”
18 So|strong="H7121" Samuel|strong="H8050" prayed|strong="H7121" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H3605" LORD|strong="H3068". That|strong="H3605" same|strong="H1931" day|strong="H3117" the|strong="H3605" LORD|strong="H3068" sent|strong="H5414" thunder|strong="H6963" and|strong="H3068" rain|strong="H4306". And|strong="H3068" the|strong="H3605" people|strong="H5971" became very|strong="H3966" afraid|strong="H3372" of|strong="H3068" the|strong="H3605" LORD|strong="H3068" and|strong="H3068" Samuel|strong="H8050".
19 All|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" people|strong="H5971" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" Samuel|strong="H8050", “Pray|strong="H6419" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H3605" LORD|strong="H3068" your|strong="H3068" God|strong="H0430" for|strong="H3588" us|strong="H0413", your|strong="H3068" servants|strong="H5650". Don’t|strong="H0408" let|strong="H0408" us|strong="H0413" die|strong="H4191"! We|strong="H3588" have|strong="H5650" sinned|strong="H2403" many times. And|strong="H3068" now|strong="H3588" we|strong="H3588" have|strong="H5650" added|strong="H3254" to|strong="H0413" these|strong="H3605" sins|strong="H2403"—we|strong="H3588" have|strong="H5650" asked|strong="H7592" for|strong="H3588" a|strong="H3588" king|strong="H4428".”
20 Samuel|strong="H8050" answered|strong="H0559", “Don’t|strong="H0408" be|strong="H0408" afraid|strong="H3372". It|strong="H6213" is|strong="H3068" true|strong="H3068" that|strong="H3605" you|strong="H0859" did|strong="H6213" all|strong="H3605" these|strong="H2063" bad|strong="H7451" things|strong="H3605", but|strong="H0389" don’t|strong="H0408" stop|strong="H5493" following|strong="H0310" the|strong="H3605" LORD|strong="H3068". Serve|strong="H5647" the|strong="H3605" LORD|strong="H3068" with|strong="H0413" all|strong="H3605" your|strong="H3068" heart|strong="H3824".
21 Idols are|strong="H0834" only|strong="H5337" statues—they|strong="H1992" can’t|strong="H3808" help|strong="H3276" you|strong="H0834". So|strong="H3808" don’t|strong="H3808" worship them|strong="H1992". Idols can’t|strong="H3808" help|strong="H3276" you|strong="H0834" or|strong="H3808" save|strong="H5337" you|strong="H0834". They|strong="H1992" are|strong="H0834" nothing|strong="H3808"!
22 “But|strong="H3588" the|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068" won’t|strong="H3808" leave|strong="H5203" his|strong="H3068" people|strong="H5971". No|strong="H3808", the|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068" was|strong="H8034" pleased|strong="H2974" to|strong="H3068" make|strong="H6213" you|strong="H3588" his|strong="H3068" own people|strong="H5971". So|strong="H6213" for|strong="H3588" his|strong="H3068" own good name|strong="H8034", he|strong="H3588" won’t|strong="H3808" leave|strong="H5203" you|strong="H3588".
23 And|strong="H3068" as|strong="H3068" for|strong="H1157" me|strong="H1157", I|strong="H0595" would|strong="H3068" never|strong="H2308" stop|strong="H2308" praying|strong="H6419" for|strong="H1157" you|strong="H0853". If|strong="H2398" I|strong="H0595" stopped|strong="H2308" praying|strong="H6419" for|strong="H1157" you|strong="H0853", I|strong="H0595" would|strong="H3068" be|strong="H1571" sinning|strong="H2398" against|strong="H2398" the|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068". I|strong="H0595" will|strong="H3068" continue to|strong="H3068" teach|strong="H3384" you|strong="H0853" the|strong="H0853" right|strong="H3477" way|strong="H1870" to|strong="H3068" live|strong="H1870" a|strong="H1571" good|strong="H2896" life.
24 But|strong="H3588" you|strong="H0834" must|strong="H0853" honor the|strong="H3605" LORD|strong="H3068". You|strong="H0834" must|strong="H0853" serve|strong="H5647" him|strong="H0853" sincerely with|strong="H5973" all|strong="H3605" your|strong="H3068" heart|strong="H3824". Remember the|strong="H3605" wonderful things|strong="H3605" he|strong="H0834" has|strong="H3068" done|strong="H3605" for|strong="H3588" you|strong="H0834".
25 But|strong="H0518" if|strong="H0518" you|strong="H0859" are|strong="H1571" stubborn and|strong="H4428" do|strong="H0518" evil|strong="H7489", God will|strong="H4428" throw you|strong="H0859" and|strong="H4428" your|strong="H0518" king|strong="H4428" away|strong="H5595", like dirt swept|strong="H5595" out with|strong="H4428" a|strong="H0518" broom.”