1 Samuel 12:19-23
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 12
19Then all the people said to Samuel, 'Pray to the Lord your God for your servants, so that we do not die; for we have added to all our sins this evil, by asking for ourselves a king.' 20Samuel said to the people, 'Do not fear. You have committed all this evil, yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. 21Indeed, you must not turn aside, for then you would go after useless things which cannot benefit or save, because they are useless. 22For the Lord will not abandon His people on account of His great name, because the Lord has been pleased to make you a people for Himself. 23Furthermore, as for me, far be it from me that I would sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you; but I will instruct you in the good and right way.King James Version
20And 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;
21And turn ye not aside: for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain.
22For the Lord will not forsake his people for his great name's sake: because it hath pleased the Lord to make you his people.
23Moreover 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:
Christian Standard Bible
20Samuel replied, "Don’t be afraid. Even though you have committed all this evil, don’t turn away from following the Lord. Instead, worship the Lord with all your heart.
21Don’t turn away to follow worthless things that can’t profit or rescue you; they are worthless.
22The Lord will not abandon his people, because of his great name and because he has determined to make you his own people.
New Living Translation
20Don’t be afraid,' Samuel reassured them. 'You have certainly done wrong, but make sure now that you worship the Lord with all your heart, and don’t turn your back on him.
21Don’t go back to worshiping worthless idols that cannot help or rescue you — they are totally useless!
22The Lord will not abandon his people, because that would dishonor his great name. For it has pleased the Lord to make you his very own people.
English Standard Version
Chapter 12
19And all the people said to Samuel, "Pray for your servants to the Lord your God, that we may not die, for we have added to all our sins this evil, to ask for ourselves a king." 20And Samuel said to the people, "Do not be afraid; you have done all this evil. Yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. 21And do not turn aside after empty things that cannot profit or deliver, for they are empty. 22For the Lord will not forsake his people, for his great name 's sake, because it has pleased the Lord to make you a people for himself. 23Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you, and I will instruct you in the good and the right way.New International Version
20"Do not be afraid," Samuel replied. "You have done all this evil; yet do not turn away from the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart.
21Do not turn away after useless idols. They can do you no good, nor can they rescue you, because they are useless.
22For the sake of his great name the Lord will not reject his people, because the Lord was pleased to make you his own.
23As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right.
New King James Version
20Then Samuel said to the people, “Do not fear. You have done all this wickedness; yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart.
21And do not turn aside; for then you would go after empty things which cannot profit or deliver, for they are nothing.
22For the Lord will not forsake His people, for His great name’s sake, because it has pleased the Lord to make you His people.
23Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you; but I will teach you the good and the right way.
