1 Samuel 12 - 1599 Geneva Bible (GNV)

12 1 Samuel declaring to the people his integrity, reproveth their ingratitude. 19 God by miracle causeth the people to confess their sin. 20 Samuel exhorteth the people to follow the Lord.

1 Samuel then said unto all Israel, Behold, I have [a]hearkened unto your voice in all that ye said unto me, and have appointed a King over you.

2 Now therefore behold, your King walketh [b]before you, and I am old and gray headed, and behold, my sons are with you: and I have walked before you from my childhood unto this day.

3 Behold, here I am: bear record of me before the Lord and before his anointed. [c]Whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I done wrong to? or whom have I hurt? or of whose hand have I received any bribe, to blind mine eyes therewith, and I will restore it you?

4 Then they said, Thou hast done us no wrong, nor hast hurt 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 [d]Anointed is witness this day, that ye have found nought in mine hands. And they answered, He is witness.

6 Then Samuel said unto the people, It is the Lord that [e]made Moses and Aaron, and that brought your fathers out of the land of Egypt.

7 Now therefore stand still, that I may reason with you before the Lord according to all the [f]righteousness of the Lord, which he showed to you and to your fathers.

8 (A)After that Jacob was come into Egypt, and your fathers cried unto the Lord, then the Lord (B)sent Moses and Aaron which brought your fathers out of Egypt, and made them dwell in this place.

9 (C)And when they forgot the Lord their God, he sold them into the hand of Sisera [g]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 Baal and Ashtoreth. Now therefore deliver us out of the hands of our enemies, and we will serve thee.

11 Therefore the Lord sent Jerubbaal [h]and Bedan and (D)Jephthah, and (E)Samuel, and delivered you out of the hands of your enemies on every side, and ye dwelled safe.

12 Notwithstanding when you saw, that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon came against you, ye said unto me, [i]No, but a king shall reign over us: when yet the Lord your God was your King.

13 Now therefore behold the King whom ye have chosen, and whom ye have desired: lo therefore, the Lord hath set a King over you.

14 If ye will fear the Lord and serve him, and hear his voice, and not disobey the word of the Lord, both ye, and the king that reigneth over you, shall [j]follow the Lord your God.

15 But if ye will not obey the voice of the Lord, but disobey the Lord’s mouth, then shall the hand of the Lord be upon you, and on your [k]fathers.

16 Now also stand and see this great thing which the Lord will do before your eyes.

17 Is it not now wheat harvest? I will call unto the Lord, and he shall send thunder and rain, that ye may perceive and see, how that your wickedness is [l]great, which ye have done in the sight of the Lord in asking you a king.

18 Then Samuel called unto the Lord, and the Lord sent thunder and rain the same day: and all the people feared the Lord and Samuel exceedingly.

19 And all the people said unto Samuel, Pray for thy servants unto the Lord thy God, that we die not: for we have sinned in asking us a King, beside [m]all our other sins.

20 ¶ And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not, (ye have indeed done all this wickedness, [n]yet depart not from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart,

21 Neither turn ye back: for that should be after vain things which cannot profit you, nor deliver you, for they are but vanity.)

22 For the Lord will not forsake his people for his great Name’s sake: because it hath pleased the Lord to make you [o]his people.

23 Moreover God forbid, that I should sin against the Lord, and cease praying for you, but I will show you the good and right way.

24 Therefore fear you the Lord, and serve him in the truth with all your [p]hearts, and consider how great things he hath done for you.

25 But if ye do wickedly, ye shall perish, both ye and your King.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 12:1 I have granted your petition.
  2. 1 Samuel 12:2 To govern you in peace and war.
  3. 1 Samuel 12:3 God would that this confession should be a pattern for all them that have any charge or office.
  4. 1 Samuel 12:5 Your King, who is anointed by the commandment of the Lord.
  5. 1 Samuel 12:6 Or, exalted.
  6. 1 Samuel 12:7 Or, benefits.
  7. 1 Samuel 12:9 Captain of Jabin’s host, King of Hazor.
  8. 1 Samuel 12:11 That is, Samson, Judg. 13:25.
  9. 1 Samuel 12:12 Leaving God to seek the help of man, 1 Sam. 8:5.
  10. 1 Samuel 12:14 Ye shall be preserved as they that follow the Lord’s will.
  11. 1 Samuel 12:15 Meaning, the governors.
  12. 1 Samuel 12:17 In that ye have forsaken him, who hath all power in his hand, for a mortal man.
  13. 1 Samuel 12:19 Not only at other times, but now chiefly.
  14. 1 Samuel 12:20 He showeth that there is no sin so great, but it shall be forgiven, if the sinner turn again to God.
  15. 1 Samuel 12:22 Of his free mercy, and not of your merits, and therefore he will not forsake you.
  16. 1 Samuel 12:24 Unfeignedly, and without hypocrisy.

Cross references

  1. 1 Samuel 12:8 : Gen. 46:5,6
  2. 1 Samuel 12:8 : Exod. 4:16
  3. 1 Samuel 12:9 : Judg. 4:2
  4. 1 Samuel 12:11 : Judg. 11:1
  5. 1 Samuel 12:11 : 1 Sam. 4:1

You Might Also Like:

1 Samuel 12 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

12 And Samuel saith unto all Israel, `Lo, I have hearkened to your voice, to all that ye said to me, and I cause to reign over you a king, 2 and now, lo, the king is walking habitually before you, and I have become aged and gray-headed, and my sons, lo, they [are] with you, and I have walked habitua...
Read More

1 Samuel 12 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

12 Forsooth Samuel said to all Israel, Lo! I [have] heard your voice by all things which ye spake to me, and I [have] ordained a king upon you; 2 and now the king goeth before you. And I have waxed eld and hoary; and my sons be with you; also I have lived before you from my young waxing age unto thi...
Read More

1 Samuel 12 - World English Bible (WEB)

12 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. I am old and gray-headed. Behold, my sons are with you. I have walked before you from my youth to this day. 3 Here I am. Witness...
Read More

1 Samuel 12 - The Voice (VOICE)

The historical books of the Hebrew Bible often have sections where great religious leaders make a final speech. This is a summing-up of their lives and often a prophetic warning about the future. Call it “foreshadowing,” if you will, because everyone who hears this story knows that everything Samuel...
Read More

1 Samuel 12 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Samuel Rebukes Israel12 Then Samuel said to all Israel, “Behold, I have listened to your voice in all you said to me, and have set a king over you. 2 Now here is the king who will go before you, while I am old and gray. Also here are my sons with you. I have gone before you from my youth to this da...
Read More

1 Samuel 12 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

Samuel’s Farewell Address12 And Samuel said to all Israel, “Behold, I have hearkened to your voice in all that you have said to me, and have made a king over you. 2 And now, behold, the king walks before you; and I am old and gray, and behold, my sons are with you; and I have walked before you from...
Read More

1 Samuel 12 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Samuel’s Farewell Address12 And Samuel said to all Israel, “Behold, I have hearkened to your voice in all that you have said to me, and have made a king over you. 2 And now, behold, the king walks before you; and I am old and gray, and behold, my sons are with you; and I have walked before you from...
Read More

1 Samuel 12 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

Samuel’s Farewell Address12 Samuel said to all Israel, ‘I have listened to you in all that you have said to me, and have set a king over you. 2 See, it is the king who leads you now; I am old and grey, but my sons are with you. I have led you from my youth until this day. 3 Here I am; testify agai...
Read More

1 Samuel 12 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Samuel’s Farewell Address12 Samuel said to all Israel, “I have listened to you in all that you have said to me and have set a king over you.(A)2 See, it is the king who leads you now; I am old and gray, but my sons are with you. I have led you from my youth until this day.(B)3 Here I am; testify aga...
Read More

1 Samuel 12 - New Living Translation (NLT)

Samuel’s Farewell Address12 Then Samuel addressed all Israel: “I have done as you asked and given you a king. 2 Your king is now your leader. I stand here before you—an old, gray-haired man—and my sons serve you. I have served as your leader from the time I was a boy to this very day. 3 Now testify ...
Read More

1 Samuel 12 - New Life Version (NLV)

Samuel’s Last Words to Israel12 Then Samuel said to all Israel, “See, I have listened to all you have said to me. I have chosen a king to rule over you. 2 Now see, the king walks in front of you. But I am old. My hair is growing white. See, my sons are with you. I have walked in front of you since ...
Read More

1 Samuel 12 - New King James Version (NKJV)

Samuel’s Address at Saul’s Coronation12 Now Samuel said to all Israel: “Indeed I have [a]heeded (A)your voice in all that you said to me, and (B)have made a king over you. 2 And now here is the king, (C)walking before you; (D)and I am old and grayheaded, and look, my sons are with you. I have walke...
Read More

1 Samuel 12 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

Samuel’s farewell speech12 Samuel said to all Israel, ‘I have listened to everything you said to me and have set a king over you. 2 Now you have a king as your leader. As for me, I am old and grey, and my sons are here with you. I have been your leader from my youth until this day. 3 Here I stand....
Read More

1 Samuel 12 - New International Version (NIV)

Samuel’s Farewell Speech12 Samuel said to all Israel, “I have listened(A) to everything you said to me and have set a king(B) over you. 2 Now you have a king as your leader.(C) As for me, I am old and gray, and my sons(D) are here with you. I have been your leader from my youth until this day. 3 Her...
Read More

1 Samuel 12 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

Samuel’s Final Speech to Israel12 Samuel spoke to all the Israelites. He said, “I’ve done everything you asked me to do. I’ve placed a king over you. 2 Now you have a king as your leader. But I’m old. My hair is gray. My sons are here with you. I’ve been your leader from the time I was young until ...
Read More

1 Samuel 12 - New English Translation (NET)

12 Samuel said to all Israel, “I have done[a] everything you requested.[b] I have given you a king.[c] 2 Now look! This king walks before you. As for me, I am old and gray, and my sons are here with you. I have walked before you from the time of my youth till the present day. 3 Here I am. Bring a ...
Read More