Parallel Bible results for "1 samuel 12"

1 Samuel 12

The Message Bible MSG

1 Samuel addressed all Israel: "I've listened to everything you've said to me, listened carefully to every word, and I've given you a king.

2 See for yourself: Your king among you, leading you! But now look at me: I'm old and gray, and my sons are still here. I've led you faithfully from my youth until this very day.

3 Look at me! Do you have any complaints to bring before God and his anointed? Have I ever stolen so much as an ox or a donkey? Have I ever taken advantage of you or exploited you? Have I ever taken a bribe or played fast and loose with the law? Bring your complaint and I'll make it right."

4 "Oh no," they said, "never. You've never done any of that - never abused us, never lined your own pockets."

5 "That settles it then," said Samuel. "God is witness, and his anointed is witness that you find nothing against me - no faults, no complaints."

6 And the people said, "He is witness."

7 Take your stand before him now as I review your case before God in the light of all the righteous ways in which God has worked with you and your ancestors.

8 When Jacob's sons entered Egypt, the Egyptians made life hard for them and they cried for help to God. God sent Moses and Aaron, who led your ancestors out of Egypt and settled them here in this place.

9 "They soon forgot their God, so he sold them off to Sisera, commander of Hazor's army, later to a hard life under the Philistines, and still later to the king of Moab. They had to fight for their lives.

10 "Then they cried for help to God. They confessed, 'We've sinned! We've gone off and left God and worshiped the fertility gods and goddesses of Canaan. Oh, deliver us from the brutalities of our enemies and we'll worship you alone.'

11 "So God sent Jerub-Baal (Gideon), Bedan (Barak), Jephthah, and Samuel. He saved you from that hard life surrounded by enemies, and you lived in peace.

12 "But when you saw Nahash, king of the Ammonites, preparing to attack you, you said to me, 'No more of this. We want a king to lead us.' And God was already your king!

13 "So here's the king you wanted, the king you asked for. God has let you have your own way, given you a king.

14 If you fear God, worship and obey him, and don't rebel against what he tells you. If both you and your king follow God, no problem. God will be sure to save you.

15 But if you don't obey him and rebel against what he tells you, king or no king, you will fare no better than your fathers.

16 "Pay attention! Watch this wonder that God is going to perform before you now!

17 It's summer, as you well know, and the rainy season is over. But I'm going to pray to God. He'll send thunder and rain, a sign to convince you of the great wrong you have done to God by asking for a king."

18 Samuel prayed to God, and God sent thunder and rain that same day. The people were greatly afraid and in awe of God and of Samuel.

19 Then all the people begged Samuel, "Pray to your God for us, your servants. Pray that we won't die! On top of all our other sins, we've piled on one more - asking for a king!"

20 Samuel said to them, "Don't be fearful. It's true that you have done something very wrong. All the same, don't turn your back on God. Worship and serve him heart and soul!

21 Don't chase after ghost-gods.

22 There's nothing to them. They can't help you. They're nothing but ghost-gods! God, simply because of who he is, is not going to walk off and leave his people. God took delight in making you into his very own people.

23 "And neither will I walk off and leave you. That would be a sin against God! I'm staying right here at my post praying for you and teaching you the good and right way to live.

24 But I beg of you, fear God and worship him honestly and heartily. You've seen how greatly he has worked among you!

25 Be warned: If you live badly, both you and your king will be thrown out."

New Century Version NCV

1 Samuel said to all Israel, "I have done every thing you wanted me to do and have put a king over you.

2 Now you have a king to lead you. I am old and gray, and my sons are here with you. I have been your leader since I was young.

3 Here I am. If I have done anything wrong, you must testify against me before the Lord and his appointed king. Did I steal anyone's ox or donkey? Did I hurt or cheat anyone? Did I ever secretly accept money to pretend not to see something wrong? If I did any of these things, I will make it right."

4 The Israelites answered, "You have not cheated us, or hurt us, or taken anything unfairly from anyone."

5 Samuel said to them, "The Lord is a witness to what you have said. His appointed king is also a witness today that you did not find anything wrong in me." "He is our witness," they said.

6 Then Samuel said to the people, "It is the Lord who chose Moses and Aaron and brought your ancestors out of Egypt.

7 Now, stand there, and I will remind you of all the good things the Lord did for you and your ancestors.

8 "After Jacob entered Egypt, his descendants cried to the Lord for help. So the Lord sent Moses and Aaron, who took your ancestors out of Egypt and brought them to live in this place.

9 "But they forgot the Lord their God. So he handed them over as slaves to Sisera, the commander of the army of Hazor, and as slaves to the Philistines and the king of Moab. They all fought against your ancestors.

10 Then your ancestors cried to the Lord and said, 'We have sinned. We have left the Lord and served the Baals and the Ashtoreths. But now save us from our enemies, and we will serve you.'

11 So the Lord sent Gideon, Barak, Jephthah, and Samuel. He saved you from your enemies around you, and you lived in safety.

12 But when you saw Nahash king of the Ammonites coming against you, you said, 'No! We want a king to rule over us!' -- even though the Lord your God was your king.

13 Now here is the king you chose, the one you asked for. The Lord has put him over you.

14 You must honor the Lord and serve him. You must obey his word and not turn against his commands. Both you and the king ruling over you must follow the Lord your God. If you do, it will be well with you.

15 But if you don't obey the Lord, and if you turn against his commands, he will be against you. He will do to you what he did to your ancestors.

16 "Now stand still and see the great thing the Lord will do before your eyes.

17 It is now the time of the wheat harvest. I will pray for the Lord to send thunder and rain. Then you will know what an evil thing you did against the Lord when you asked for a king."

18 Then Samuel prayed to the Lord, and that same day the Lord sent thunder and rain. So the people were very afraid of the Lord and Samuel.

19 They said to Samuel, "Pray to the Lord your God for us, your servants! Don't let us die! We've added to all our sins the evil of asking for a king."

20 Samuel answered, "Don't be afraid. It's true that you did wrong, but don't turn away from the Lord. Serve the Lord with all your heart.

21 Idols are of no use, so don't worship them. They can't help you or save you. They are useless!

22 For his own sake, the Lord won't leave his people. Instead, he was pleased to make you his own people.

23 I will surely not stop praying for you, because that would be sinning against the Lord. I will teach you what is good and right.

24 You must honor the Lord and truly serve him with all your heart. Remember the wonderful things he did for you!

25 But if you are stubborn and do evil, he will sweep you and your king away."