1 Samuel 12:16–23

16 “Even now, atake your stand and see this great thing which the Lord will do before your eyes.

17 “aIs it not the wheat harvest today? bI will call to the Lord, that He may send 1thunder and rain. Then you will know and see that cyour wickedness is great which you have done in the sight of the Lord by asking for yourselves a king.”

18 So Samuel called to the Lord, and the Lord sent 1thunder and rain that day; and aall the people greatly feared the Lord and Samuel.

19 Then all the people said to Samuel, “aPray for your servants to the Lord your God, so that we may not die, for we have added to all our sins bthis evil by asking for ourselves a king.”

20 Samuel said to the people, “Do not fear. You have committed all this evil, yet ado not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart.

21 “You must not turn aside, for then you would go after afutile things which can not profit or deliver, because they are futile.

22 “For athe Lord will not abandon His people bon account of His great name, because the Lord chas been pleased to make you a people for Himself.

23 “Moreover, as for me, afar be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you; but bI will instruct you in the good and right way.