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[1]Samuel then said unto all Israel, Behold, I have 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 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. 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 anointed is witness this day, that ye have found naught in mine hands. And they answered, He is witness.
[6]Then Samuel said unto the people, It is the Lord that 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 righteousness of the Lord, which he showed to you and to your fathers.
[8]After that Jacob was come into Egypt, and your fathers cried unto the Lord, then the Lord sent Moses and Aaron which brought your fathers out of Egypt, and made them dwell in this place.
[9]And when they forgot 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. Now therefore deliver us out of the hands of our enemies, and we will serve thee.
[11]Therefore the Lord sent Jerubbaal and Bedan and Jephthah, and 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, 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 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 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 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 all our other sins.
[20]And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not. (ye have indeed done all this wickedness, 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 his people.
[23]Moreover God forbid, that I should sin against the Lord, and cease praying for you, but I will sh0w you the good and right way.
[24]Therefore fear you the Lord, and serve him in the truth with all your 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.
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