1 Samuel, Chapter 12:
publicidad
Verses from 1 Samuel, Chapter 12 of the book of 1 Samuel of the Bible.
Samuel's speech
- 1. Samuel addressed all Israel: “I have granted all your requests and have appointed a king to rule you.
- 2. Now you have a king who will lead you. As for me, I am old and gray-haired, and my children are here among you. I have served before you from my youth until today.
- 3. I am here to testify against myself. If I have taken something that belonged to someone, if I have exploited or oppressed someone, if I have accepted a bribe and turned a blind eye to their guilt, may the Lord and his anointed be witnesses against me. If I did any of these things, I am willing to make restitution.”
- 4. And the people replied, “You have not exploited us or oppressed us, nor have you taken anything from anyone’s hands.”
- 5. Samuel said, “The Lord is a witness against you, and his anointed is a witness this day, that I have found nothing in my hands to accuse you.” And they said, “He is a witness.”
- 6. Then Samuel said to the people, “The Lord appointed Moses and Aaron and brought them out of Egypt.
- 7. Now stay here, for I will judge you before the Lord based on the righteous deeds the Lord has done for you and your ancestors.
- 8. When Jacob and his family went to Egypt, they cried out to the Lord, and He sent Moses and Aaron to bring them out of Egypt and into this land.
- 9. However, their ancestors forgot the Lord their God, and He delivered them into the hands of Sisera, commander of the army of Hazor, and of the Philistines, and of the king of Moab, who fought against them.
- 10. They cried out to the Lord, confessing, 'We have sinned and forsaken the Lord and worshiped the idols of Baal and the holy poles. Now free us from the hands of our enemies, and we will worship you.'
- 11. Then the Lord sent Jerubbaal, Barak, Jephthah and Samuel, and He delivered you from the hands of the enemies who surrounded you, and you lived in safety.
- 12. But when you saw that Nahash, the king of the Ammonites, was advancing against you, you said, 'No! We want a king to rule over us,' even when the Lord their God was their king.
- 13. Now here is the king you chose, the king you asked for; the Lord has given you a king.
- 14. If you fear, serve and obey the Lord, and if you and the king who reigns over you follow the Lord your God, everything will go well.
- 15. But if you disobey the Lord and rebel against His commandments, then the hand of the Lord will rise against you, just as it was against your ancestors.
- 16. “Be ready now to witness the great deed that the Lord will perform before you!
- 17. Isn't it wheat harvest time? I will ask the Lord to send thunder and rain, so that you will recognize how much evil you have done by asking for a king.”
- 18. Then Samuel cried out to the Lord, and that day the Lord sent thunder and rain. All the people greatly feared the Lord and Samuel.
- 19. And all the people said to Samuel, “Pray to the Lord your God on our behalf, that we may not die, for in addition to all our sins, we have committed the evil of asking for a king.”
- 20. Samuel replied, “Do not be afraid. Indeed, you have committed all this evil. However, do not stop following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart.
- 21. Do not go astray and follow empty idols that have no value or power to set you free, for they are useless.
- 22. Because of His great name, the Lord will not reject you, for it has pleased the Lord to make you His people.
- 23. As for me, far be it from me to sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you. I will also instruct you in the way that is good and right.
- 24. Only fear the Lord and serve Him faithfully with all your heart, and consider the great things He has done for you.
- 25. However, if you persist in doing evil, you and your king will be destroyed.”
