1 Samuel 12 – read and compare multiple versions of the Bible
World English Bible
1 Samuel 12 (WEBP)
[1] 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 against me before Yahweh and before his anointed. Whose ox have I taken? Whose donkey have I taken? Whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed? Of whose hand have I taken a bribe to make me blind my eyes? I will restore it to you.”
[4] They said, “You have not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither have you taken anything from anyone’s hand.”
[5] He said to them, “Yahweh is witness against you, and his anointed is witness today, that you have not found anything in my hand.” They said, “He is witness.”
[6] Samuel said to the people, “It is Yahweh who appointed Moses and Aaron, and that brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt.
[7] Now therefore stand still, that I may plead with you before Yahweh concerning all the righteous acts of Yahweh, which he did to you and to your fathers.
[8] “When Jacob had come into Egypt, and your fathers cried to Yahweh, then Yahweh sent Moses and Aaron, who brought your fathers out of Egypt, and made them to dwell in this place.
[9] But they forgot Yahweh their God; and he sold them into the hand of Sisera, captain of the army of Hazor, and into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab; and they fought against them.
[10] They cried to Yahweh, and said, ‘We have sinned, because we have forsaken Yahweh and have served the Baals and the Ashtaroth; but now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, and we will serve you.’
[11] Yahweh sent Jerubbaal, Bedan, Jephthah, and Samuel, and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side; and you lived in safety.
[12] “When you saw that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon came against you, you said to me, ‘No, but a king shall reign over us,’ when Yahweh your God was your king.
[13] Now therefore see the king whom you have chosen and whom you have asked for. Behold, Yahweh has set a king over you.
[14] If you will fear Yahweh, and serve him, and listen to his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of Yahweh, then both you and also the king who reigns over you are followers of Yahweh your God.
[15] But if you will not listen to Yahweh’s voice, but rebel against the commandment of Yahweh, then Yahweh’s hand will be against you, as it was against your fathers.
[16] “Now therefore stand still and see this great thing, which Yahweh will do before your eyes.
[17] Isn’t it wheat harvest today? I will call to Yahweh, that he may send thunder and rain; and you will know and see that your wickedness is great, which you have done in Yahweh’s sight, in asking for a king.”
[18] So Samuel called to Yahweh, and Yahweh sent thunder and rain that day. Then all the people greatly feared Yahweh and Samuel.
[19] All the people said to Samuel, “Pray for your servants to Yahweh your God, that we not die; for we have added to all our sins this evil, to ask for a king.”
[20] Samuel said to the people, “Don’t be afraid. You have indeed done all this evil; yet don’t turn away from following Yahweh, but serve Yahweh with all your heart.
[21] Don’t turn away to go after vain things which can’t profit or deliver, for they are vain.
[22] For Yahweh will not forsake his people for his great name’s sake, because it has pleased Yahweh to make you a people for himself.
[23] Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against Yahweh in ceasing to pray for you; but I will instruct you in the good and the right way.
[24] Only fear Yahweh, and serve him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things he has done for you.
[25] But if you keep doing evil, you will be consumed, both you and your king.”
Scripture quotations are taken from The World English Bible™ of eBible.org, 2020 stable text edition. It is in the public domain.
King James w/Strong’s #s
1 Samuel 12 (KJVS)
[1] And Samuel H8050 said H559 (8799) unto all Israel H3478, Behold, I have hearkened H8085 (8804) unto your voice H6963 in all that ye said H559 (8804) unto me, and have made H4427 (8686) a king H4428 over you.
[2] And now, behold, the king H4428 walketh H1980 (8693) before H6440 you: and I am old H2204 (8804) and grayheaded H7867 (8804); and, behold, my sons H1121 [are] with you: and I have walked H1980 (8694) before H6440 you from my childhood H5271 unto this day H3117.
[3] Behold, here I [am]: witness H6030 (8798) against me before the LORD H3068, and before his anointed H4899: whose ox H7794 have I taken H3947 (8804)? or whose ass H2543 have I taken H3947 (8804)? or whom have I defrauded H6231 (8804)? whom have I oppressed H7533 (8804)? or of whose hand H3027 have I received [any] bribe H3724 to blind H5956 (8686) mine eyes H5869 therewith? and I will restore H7725 (8686) it you.
[4] And they said H559 (8799), Thou hast not defrauded H6231 (8804) us, nor oppressed H7533 (8804) us, neither hast thou taken H3947 (8804) ought H3972 of any man’s H376 hand H3027.
[5] And he said H559 (8799) unto them, The LORD H3068 [is] witness H5707 against you, and his anointed H4899 [is] witness H5707 this day H3117, that ye have not found H4672 (8804) ought H3972 in my hand H3027. And they answered H559 (8799), [He is] witness H5707.
[6] And Samuel H8050 said H559 (8799) unto the people H5971, [It is] the LORD H3068 that advanced H6213 (8804) Moses H4872 and Aaron H175, and that brought H5927 your fathers H1 up H5927 (8689) out of the land H776 of Egypt H4714.
[7] Now therefore stand still H3320 (8690), that I may reason H8199 (8735) with you before H6440 the LORD H3068 of all the righteous acts H6666 of the LORD H3068, which he did H6213 (8804) to you and to your fathers H1.
[8] When Jacob H3290 was come H935 (8804) into Egypt H4714, and your fathers H1 cried H2199 (8799) unto the LORD H3068, then the LORD H3068 sent H7971 (8799) Moses H4872 and Aaron H175, which brought forth H3318 (8686) your fathers H1 out of Egypt H4714, and made them dwell H3427 (8686) in this place H4725.
[9] And when they forgat H7911 (8799) the LORD H3068 their God H430, he sold H4376 (8799) them into the hand H3027 of Sisera H5516, captain H8269 of the host H6635 of Hazor H2674, and into the hand H3027 of the Philistines H6430, and into the hand H3027 of the king H4428 of Moab H4124, and they fought H3898 (8735) against them.
[10] And they cried H2199 (8799) unto the LORD H3068, and said H559 (8799), We have sinned H2398 (8804), because we have forsaken H5800 (8804) the LORD H3068, and have served H5647 (8799) Baalim H1168 and Ashtaroth H6252: but now deliver H5337 (8685) us out of the hand H3027 of our enemies H341 (8802), and we will serve H5647 (8799) thee.
[11] And the LORD H3068 sent H7971 (8799) Jerubbaal H3378, and Bedan H917, and Jephthah H3316, and Samuel H8050, and delivered H5337 (8686) you out of the hand H3027 of your enemies H341 (8802) on every side H5439, and ye dwelled H3427 (8799) safe H983.
[12] And when ye saw H7200 (8799) that Nahash H5176 the king H4428 of the children H1121 of Ammon H5983 came H935 (8804) against you, ye said H559 (8799) unto me, Nay; but a king H4428 shall reign H4427 (8799) over us: when the LORD H3068 your God H430 [was] your king H4428.
[13] Now therefore behold the king H4428 whom ye have chosen H977 (8804), [and] whom ye have desired H7592 (8804)! and, behold, the LORD H3068 hath set H5414 (8804) a king H4428 over you.
[14] If ye will fear H3372 (8799) the LORD H3068, and serve H5647 (8804) him, and obey H8085 (8804) his voice H6963, and not rebel H4784 (8686) against the commandment H6310 of the LORD H3068, then shall both ye and also the king H4428 that reigneth H4427 (8804) over you continue following H310 the LORD H3068 your God H430:
[15] But if ye will not obey H8085 (8799) the voice H6963 of the LORD H3068, but rebel H4784 (8804) against the commandment H6310 of the LORD H3068, then shall the hand H3027 of the LORD H3068 be against you, as [it was] against your fathers H1.
[16] Now therefore H1571 stand H3320 (8690) and see H7200 (8798) this great H1419 thing H1697, which the LORD H3068 will do H6213 (8802) before your eyes H5869.
[17] [Is it] not wheat H2406 harvest H7105 to day H3117? I will call H7121 (8799) unto the LORD H3068, and he shall send H5414 (8799) thunder H6963 and rain H4306; that ye may perceive H3045 (8798) and see H7200 (8798) that your wickedness H7451 [is] great H7227, which ye have done H6213 (8804) in the sight H5869 of the LORD H3068, in asking H7592 (8800) you a king H4428.
[18] So Samuel H8050 called H7121 (8799) unto the LORD H3068; and the LORD H3068 sent H5414 (8799) thunder H6963 and rain H4306 that day H3117: and all the people H5971 greatly H3966 feared H3372 (8799) the LORD H3068 and Samuel H8050.
[19] And all the people H5971 said H559 (8799) unto Samuel H8050, Pray H6419 (8690) for thy servants H5650 unto the LORD H3068 thy God H430, that we die H4191 (8799) not: for we have added H3254 (8804) unto all our sins H2403 [this] evil H7451, to ask H7592 (8800) us a king H4428.
[20] And Samuel H8050 said H559 (8799) unto the people H5971, Fear H3372 (8799) not: ye have done H6213 (8804) all this wickedness H7451: yet turn not aside H5493 (8799) from following H310 the LORD H3068, but serve H5647 (8804) the LORD H3068 with all your heart H3824;
[21] And turn ye not aside H5493 (8799): for [then should ye go] after H310 vain H8414 [things], which cannot profit H3276 (8686) nor deliver H5337 (8686); for they [are] vain H8414.
[22] For the LORD H3068 will not forsake H5203 (8799) his people H5971 for his great H1419 name’s H8034 sake: because it hath pleased H2974 (8689) the LORD H3068 to make H6213 (8800) you his people H5971.
[23] Moreover as for me H595, God forbid H2486 that I should sin H2398 (8800) against the LORD H3068 in ceasing H2308 (8800) to pray H6419 (8692) for you: but I will teach H3384 (8689) you the good H2896 and the right H3477 way H1870:
[24] Only fear H3372 (8798) the LORD H3068, and serve H5647 (8804) him in truth H571 with all your heart H3824: for consider H7200 (8798) how great [things] he hath done H1431 (8689) for you.
[25] But if ye shall still H7489 (8687) do wickedly H7489 (8686), ye shall be consumed H5595 (8735), both ye and your king H4428.
Young’s Literal Translation
1 Samuel 12 (YLT)
[1] 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 habitually before you from my youth till this day.
[3] ‘Lo, here am I; testify against me, over-against Jehovah, and over-against His anointed; whose ox have I taken, and whose ass have I taken, and whom have I oppressed; whom have I bruised, and of whose hand have I taken a ransom, and hide mine eyes with it?-and I restore to you.’
[4] And they say, ‘Thou hast not oppressed us, nor hast thou crushed us, nor hast thou taken from the hand of any one anything.’
[5] And he saith unto them, ‘A witness is Jehovah against you: and a witness is His anointed this day, that ye have not found anything in my hand;’ and they say, ‘A witness.’
[6] And Samuel saith unto the people, ‘Jehovah-He who made Moses and Aaron, and who brought up your fathers out of the land of Egypt!
[7] and, now, station yourselves, and I judge you before Jehovah, with all the righteous acts of Jehovah, which He did with you, and with your fathers.
[8] ‘When Jacob hath come in to Egypt, and your fathers cry unto Jehovah, then Jehovah sendeth Moses and Aaron, and they bring out your fathers from Egypt, and cause them to dwell in this place,
[9] and they forget Jehovah their God, and He selleth them into the hand of Sisera, head of the host of Hazor, and into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab, and they fight against them,
[10] and they cry unto Jehovah, and say, We have sinned, because we have forsaken Jehovah, and serve the Baalim, and Ashtaroth, and now, deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, and we serve Thee.
[11] ‘And Jehovah sendeth Jerubbaal, and Bedan, and Jephthah, and Samuel, and delivereth you out of the hand of your enemies round about, and ye dwell confidently.
[12] ‘And ye see that Nahash king of the Bene-Ammon hath come against you, and ye say to me, Nay, but a king doth reign over us; and Jehovah your God is your king!
[13] And, now, lo, the king whom ye have chosen-whom ye have asked! and lo, Jehovah hath placed over you a king.
[14] ‘If ye fear Jehovah, and have served Him, and hearkened to His voice, then ye do not provoke the mouth of Jehovah, and ye have been-both ye and the king who hath reigned over you-after Jehovah your God.
[15] ‘And if ye do not hearken to the voice of Jehovah-then ye have provoked the mouth of Jehovah, and the hand of Jehovah hath been against you, and against your fathers.
[16] ‘Also now, station yourselves and see this great thing which Jehovah is doing before your eyes;
[17] is it not wheat-harvest to-day? I call unto Jehovah, and He doth give voices and rain; and know ye and see that your evil is great which ye have done in the eyes of Jehovah, to ask for you a king.’
[18] And Samuel calleth unto Jehovah, and Jehovah giveth voices and rain, on that day, and all the people greatly fear Jehovah and Samuel;
[19] and all the people say unto Samuel, ‘Pray for thy servants unto Jehovah thy God, and we do not die, for we have added to all our sins evil to ask for us a king.’
[20] And Samuel saith unto the people, ‘Fear not; ye have done all this evil; only, turn not aside from after Jehovah-and ye have served Jehovah with all your heart,
[21] and ye do not turn aside after the vain things which do not profit nor deliver, for they are vain,
[22] for Jehovah doth not leave His people, on account of His great name; for Jehovah hath been pleased to make you to Him for a people.
[23] ‘I, also, far be it from me to sin against Jehovah, by ceasing to pray for you, and I have directed you in the good and upright way;
[24] only, fear ye Jehovah, and ye have served Him in truth with all your heart, for see that which He hath made great with you;
[25] and if ye really do evil, both ye and your king are consumed.’