The First Book of Samuel, Chapter 12שמואל א 12

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר שְׁמוּאֵל֙ אֶל כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל הִנֵּה֙ שָׁמַ֣עְתִּי בְקֹֽלְכֶ֔ם לְכֹ֥ל אֲשֶׁר אֲמַרְתֶּ֖ם לִ֑י וָאַמְלִ֥יךְ עֲלֵיכֶ֖ם מֶֽלֶךְ

And Samuel said to all Israel, Behold, I have hearkened to your voice in all that you said to me, and have made a king over you.

וְעַתָּ֞ה הִנֵּ֥ה הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ מִתְהַלֵּ֣ךְ לִפְנֵיכֶ֗ם וַאֲנִי֙ זָקַ֣נְתִּי וָשַׂ֔בְתִּי וּבָנַ֖י הִנָּ֣ם אִתְּכֶ֑ם וַאֲנִי֙ הִתְהַלַּ֣כְתִּי לִפְנֵיכֶ֔ם מִנְּעֻרַ֖י עַד הַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה

And now, behold, the king walketh before you: and I am old and grayheaded; and, behold, my sons with you: and I have walked before you from my childhood to this day.

הִנְנִ֣י עֲנ֣וּ בִי֩ נֶ֨גֶד יְהוָ֜ה וְנֶ֣גֶד מְשִׁיח֗וֹ אֶת שׁוֹר֩ מִ֨י לָקַ֜חְתִּי וַחֲמ֧וֹר מִ֣י לָקַ֗חְתִּי וְאֶת מִ֤י עָשַׁ֨קְתִּי֙ אֶת מִ֣י רַצּ֔וֹתִי וּמִיַּד מִי֙ לָקַ֣חְתִּי כֹ֔פֶר וְאַעְלִ֥ים עֵינַ֖י בּ֑וֹ וְאָשִׁ֖יב לָכֶֽם

Behold, here I : witness against me before YHWH, and before his anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or of whose hand have I received bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it you.

וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ לֹ֥א עֲשַׁקְתָּ֖נוּ וְלֹ֣א רַצּוֹתָ֑נוּ וְלֹֽא לָקַ֥חְתָּ מִיַּד אִ֖ישׁ מְאֽוּמָה

And they said, You have not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither have you taken ought of any man's hand.

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֲלֵיהֶ֜ם עֵ֧ד יְהוָ֣ה בָּכֶ֗ם וְעֵ֤ד מְשִׁיחוֹ֙ הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֔ה כִּ֣י לֹ֧א מְצָאתֶ֛ם בְּיָדִ֖י מְא֑וּמָה וַיֹּ֖אמֶר עֵֽד

And he said to them, YHWH witness against you, and his anointed witness this day, that you have not found ought in my hand. And they answered, witness.

וַיֹּ֥אמֶר שְׁמוּאֵ֖ל אֶל הָעָ֑ם יְהוָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֤ר עָשָׂה֙ אֶת מֹשֶׁ֣ה וְאֶֽת אַהֲרֹ֔ן וַאֲשֶׁ֧ר הֶעֱלָ֛ה אֶת אֲבֹתֵיכֶ֖ם מֵאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם

And Samuel said to the people, YHWH that advanced Moses and Aaron, and that brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt.

וְעַתָּ֗ה הִֽתְיַצְּב֛וּ וְאִשָּׁפְטָ֥ה אִתְּכֶ֖ם לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה אֵ֚ת כָּל צִדְק֣וֹת יְהוָ֔ה אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂ֥ה אִתְּכֶ֖ם וְאֶת אֲבוֹתֵיכֶֽם

Now therefore stand still, that I may reason with you before YHWH of all the righteous acts of YHWH, which he did to you and to your fathers.

כַּֽאֲשֶׁר בָּ֥א יַעֲקֹ֖ב מִצְרָ֑יִם וַיִּזְעֲק֤וּ אֲבֽוֹתֵיכֶם֙ אֶל יְהוָ֔ה וַיִּשְׁלַ֨ח יְהוָ֜ה אֶת מֹשֶׁ֣ה וְאֶֽת אַהֲרֹ֗ן וַיּוֹצִ֤יאוּ אֶת אֲבֹֽתֵיכֶם֙ מִמִּצְרַ֔יִם וַיֹּשִׁב֖וּם בַּמָּק֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה

When Jacob was come into Egypt, and your fathers cried to YHWH, then YHWH sent Moses and Aaron, which brought forth your fathers out of Egypt, and made them dwell in this place.

וַֽיִּשְׁכְּח֖וּ אֶת יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵיהֶ֑ם וַיִּמְכֹּ֣ר אֹתָ֡ם בְּיַ֣ד סִֽיסְרָא֩ שַׂר צְבָ֨א חָצ֜וֹר וּבְיַד פְּלִשְׁתִּ֗ים וּבְיַד֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ מוֹאָ֔ב וַיִּֽלָּחֲמ֖וּ בָּֽם

And when they forgat YHWH 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.

וַיִּזְעֲק֤וּ אֶל יְהוָה֙ ויאמר וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ חָטָ֔אנוּ כִּ֤י עָזַ֨בְנוּ֙ אֶת יְהוָ֔ה וַנַּעֲבֹ֥ד אֶת הַבְּעָלִ֖ים וְאֶת הָעַשְׁתָּר֑וֹת וְעַתָּ֗ה הַצִּילֵ֛נוּ מִיַּ֥ד אֹיְבֵ֖ינוּ וְנַעַבְדֶֽךָּ

And they cried to YHWH, and said, We have sinned, because we have forsaken YHWH, and have served Baalim and Ashtaroth: but now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, and we will serve you.

וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח יְהוָה֙ אֶת יְרֻבַּ֣עַל וְאֶת בְּדָ֔ן וְאֶת יִפְתָּ֖ח וְאֶת שְׁמוּאֵ֑ל וַיַּצֵּ֨ל אֶתְכֶ֜ם מִיַּ֤ד אֹֽיְבֵיכֶם֙ מִסָּבִ֔יב וַתֵּשְׁב֖וּ בֶּֽטַח

And YHWH sent Jerubbaal, and Bedan, and Jephthah, and Samuel, and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side, and you dwelled safe.

וַתִּרְא֗וּ כִּֽי נָחָ֞שׁ מֶ֣לֶךְ בְּנֵֽי עַמּוֹן֮ בָּ֣א עֲלֵיכֶם֒ וַתֹּ֣אמְרוּ לִ֔י לֹ֕א כִּי מֶ֖לֶךְ יִמְלֹ֣ךְ עָלֵ֑ינוּ וַיהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֖ם מַלְכְּכֶֽם

And when you saw that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon came against you, you said to me, Nay; but a king shall reign over us: when YHWH your God your king.

וְעַתָּ֗ה הִנֵּ֥ה הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ אֲשֶׁ֥ר בְּחַרְתֶּ֖ם אֲשֶׁ֣ר שְׁאֶלְתֶּ֑ם וְהִנֵּ֨ה נָתַ֧ן יְהוָ֛ה עֲלֵיכֶ֖ם מֶֽלֶךְ

Now therefore behold the king whom you have chosen, whom you have desired! and, behold, YHWH has set a king over you.

אִם תִּֽירְא֣וּ אֶת יְהוָ֗ה וַעֲבַדְתֶּ֤ם אֹתוֹ֙ וּשְׁמַעְתֶּ֣ם בְּקֹל֔וֹ וְלֹ֥א תַמְר֖וּ אֶת פִּ֣י יְהוָ֑ה וִהְיִתֶ֣ם גַּם אַתֶּ֗ם וְגַם הַמֶּ֨לֶךְ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר מָלַ֣ךְ עֲלֵיכֶ֔ם אַחַ֖ר יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם

If you will fear YHWH, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of YHWH, then shall both you and also the king that reigneth over you continue following YHWH your God:

וְאִם לֹ֤א תִשְׁמְעוּ֙ בְּק֣וֹל יְהוָ֔ה וּמְרִיתֶ֖ם אֶת פִּ֣י יְהוָ֑ה וְהָיְתָ֧ה יַד יְהוָ֛ה בָּכֶ֖ם וּבַאֲבֹתֵיכֶֽם

But if you will not obey the voice of YHWH, but rebel against the commandment of YHWH, then shall the hand of YHWH be against you, as against your fathers.

גַּם עַתָּה֙ הִתְיַצְּב֣וּ וּרְא֔וּ אֶת הַדָּבָ֥ר הַגָּד֖וֹל הַזֶּ֑ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה עֹשֶׂ֖ה לְעֵינֵיכֶֽם

Now therefore stand and see this great thing, which YHWH will do before your eyes.

הֲל֤וֹא קְצִיר חִטִּים֙ הַיּ֔וֹם אֶקְרָא֙ אֶל יְהוָ֔ה וְיִתֵּ֥ן קֹל֖וֹת וּמָטָ֑ר וּדְע֣וּ וּרְא֗וּ כִּֽי רָעַתְכֶ֤ם רַבָּה֙ אֲשֶׁ֤ר עֲשִׂיתֶם֙ בְּעֵינֵ֣י יְהוָ֔ה לִשְׁא֥וֹל לָכֶ֖ם מֶֽלֶךְ

not wheat harvest to day? I will call to YHWH, and he shall send thunder and rain; that you may perceive and see that your wickedness great, which you have done in the sight of YHWH, in asking you a king.

וַיִּקְרָ֤א שְׁמוּאֵל֙ אֶל יְהוָ֔ה וַיִּתֵּ֧ן יְהוָ֛ה קֹלֹ֥ת וּמָטָ֖ר בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֑וּא וַיִּירָ֨א כָל הָעָ֥ם מְאֹ֛ד אֶת יְהוָ֖ה וְאֶת שְׁמוּאֵֽל

So Samuel called to YHWH; and YHWH sent thunder and rain that day: and all the people greatly feared YHWH and Samuel.

וַיֹּאמְר֨וּ כָל הָעָ֜ם אֶל שְׁמוּאֵ֗ל הִתְפַּלֵּ֧ל בְּעַד עֲבָדֶ֛יךָ אֶל יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ וְאַל נָמ֑וּת כִּֽי יָסַ֤פְנוּ עַל כָּל חַטֹּאתֵ֨ינוּ֙ רָעָ֔ה לִשְׁאֹ֥ל לָ֖נוּ מֶֽלֶךְ

And all the people said to Samuel, Pray for your servants to YHWH your God, that we die not: for we have added to all our sins evil, to ask us a king.

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר שְׁמוּאֵ֤ל אֶל הָעָם֙ אַל תִּירָ֔אוּ אַתֶּ֣ם עֲשִׂיתֶ֔ם אֵ֥ת כָּל הָרָעָ֖ה הַזֹּ֑את אַ֗ךְ אַל תָּס֨וּרוּ֙ מֵאַחֲרֵ֣י יְהוָ֔ה וַעֲבַדְתֶּ֥ם אֶת יְהוָ֖ה בְּכָל לְבַבְכֶֽם

And Samuel said to the people, Fear not: you have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following YHWH, but serve YHWH with all your heart;

וְלֹ֖א תָּס֑וּרוּ כִּ֣י אַחֲרֵ֣י הַתֹּ֗הוּ אֲשֶׁ֧ר לֹֽא יוֹעִ֛ילוּ וְלֹ֥א יַצִּ֖ילוּ כִּי תֹ֥הוּ הֵֽמָּה

And turn you not aside: for after vain , which cannot profit nor deliver; for they vain.

כִּ֠י לֹֽא יִטֹּ֤שׁ יְהוָה֙ אֶת עַמּ֔וֹ בַּעֲב֖וּר שְׁמ֣וֹ הַגָּד֑וֹל כִּ֚י הוֹאִ֣יל יְהוָ֔ה לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת אֶתְכֶ֛ם ל֖וֹ לְעָֽם

For YHWH will not forsake his people for his great name's sake: because it has pleased YHWH to make you his people.

גַּ֣ם אָנֹכִ֗י חָלִ֤ילָה לִּי֙ מֵחֲטֹ֣א לַֽיהוָ֔ה מֵחֲדֹ֖ל לְהִתְפַּלֵּ֣ל בַּעַדְכֶ֑ם וְהוֹרֵיתִ֣י אֶתְכֶ֔ם בְּדֶ֥רֶךְ הַטּוֹבָ֖ה וְהַיְשָׁרָֽה

Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against YHWH in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:

אַ֣ךְ יְר֣אוּ אֶת יְהוָ֗ה וַעֲבַדְתֶּ֥ם אֹת֛וֹ בֶּאֱמֶ֖ת בְּכָל לְבַבְכֶ֑ם כִּ֣י רְא֔וּ אֵ֥ת אֲשֶׁר הִגְדִּ֖ל עִמָּכֶֽם

Only fear YHWH, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great he has done for you.

וְאִם הָרֵ֖עַ תָּרֵ֑עוּ גַּם אַתֶּ֥ם גַּֽם מַלְכְּכֶ֖ם תִּסָּפֽוּ

But if you shall still do wickedly, you shall be consumed, both you and your king.