1 Samuel said to all Israel, “See, I have listened to your voice {kol: petition} in everything you told me, and I have set {vaamlikh: enthroned} a king over you.”
2 And now, behold, the king goes before you, and I have grown old {zakanti: advanced age} and gray {savti: hair graying}, and my sons stand among you, and I have walked before you from my youth until this day.
3 Behold, here I am; testify against me before the LORD {YHWH, Righteous Judge} and before His anointed. Whose ox have I taken? Whose donkey have I taken? Whom have I oppressed {ashaqqti: to rob by force}? Whom have I defrauded? From whose hand have I taken a bribe {kofer: illicit payment} so that I would cover my eyes? I will restore it to you.
4 And they said, “You have not oppressed {ashakta: acted unjustly} us, nor have you defrauded {ratzota: taken by deceit} us, nor have you taken anything from the hand of any man.”
5 He said to them, “The LORD {YHWH, Testifying Judge} is witness against you, and His anointed {meshiach: divinely appointed one} is witness this day, that you have found nothing in my hand.” And they said, “He is witness.”
6 And Samuel said to the people, “The LORD {YHWH, Covenant Deliverer} is the One who made Moses and Aaron and brought up your fathers {avot: ancestral leaders} from the land of Egypt.”
7 So now, stand here, and I will judge you before the LORD {YHWH, Righteous Judge} concerning all the righteous acts {tsidkot: deeds of justice} that the LORD has done for you and for your fathers.
8 When Jacob came to Egypt {mitsrayim: land of oppression}, and your fathers cried out to the LORD {YHWH, Rescuer}, the LORD sent Moses and Aaron; and they brought your fathers out of Egypt and settled them in this place.
9 But they forgot the LORD {YHWH, Covenant Judge} their God, and He sold {vayimkor: judicial handing over} them into the hand of Sisera, commander 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 And they cried out to the LORD {YHWH, Deliverer in Distress} and said, “We have sinned {chatanu: violated covenant}, for we have forsaken the LORD and served the Baals and the Ashtoreths. Now deliver us from the hand of our enemies, and we will serve You.”
11 And the LORD {YHWH, Rescuer} dispatched Jerub-Baal, Bedan, Jephthah, and Samuel, and He delivered you from the hand of your enemies around you, and you dwelt in security {betach: firm confidence}.
12 But when you saw that Nahash the king of the sons of Ammon came against you, you said to me, “No, but a king will reign over us,” though the LORD {YHWH, Ultimate King} your God was your king {melekh: royal authority}.
13 And now, look: here is the king whom you chose and asked for; and see, the LORD {YHWH, Sovereign Giver} has placed a king {melekh: royal authority} over you.
14 If you fear the LORD {YHWH, Covenant Ruler} and serve Him and obey His voice, and do not rebel against the mouth {pi: spoken command} of the LORD, then both you and the king who reigns over you will follow the LORD your God.
15 But if you do not heed the voice of the LORD {YHWH, Covenant Judge} and rebel against the command {pi: authoritative decree} of the LORD, then the hand of the LORD will be against you and against your fathers.
16 Now then, stand firm {hityatzevu: intentional readiness} and see this great thing which the LORD {YHWH, Wonder Worker} is doing before your eyes.
17 Is it not the wheat harvest today? I will call to the LORD {YHWH, Covenant Sustainer}, and He will give thunders {kolot: atmospheric roars} and rain, so that you may know and see that your evil is great, which you did in the eyes of the LORD, in asking for yourselves a king.
18 And Samuel called to the LORD {YHWH, Covenant Responder}, and the LORD gave thunderous sounds {kolot: mighty crashes} and rain on that day; and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel.
19 And all the people said to Samuel, “Pray on behalf of your servants to the LORD your God {YHWH Eloheikha, Intercessory Judge}, so that we do not die; for we have added this evil to all our sins {chatoteinu: acts of rebellion} by asking for a king for ourselves.”
20 And Samuel said to the people, “Do not be afraid. You have committed all this evil {hara’ah: moral corruption}; yet do not turn aside from following the LORD {YHWH, Covenant Authority}, but serve the LORD with all your heart.”
21 And do not turn aside, for you would follow vanity {tohu: futility}, which can neither profit nor deliver {yatzilu: rescue}, for it is emptiness.
22 For the LORD {YHWH, Faithful Guardian} will not forsake His people for the sake of His great name {shem: reputation and identity}, because the LORD was pleased to make you a people for Himself.
23 As for me, far be it from me to sin against the LORD {YHWH, Covenant Witness} by ceasing to pray for you; but I will instruct you in the good way {derekh: righteous conduct} and the upright path.
24 Only fear the LORD {YHWH, Revered Sovereign} and serve Him in truth {emet: covenant faithfulness} with all your heart; for you must consider the great things He has done for you.
25 But if you continue to do evil {re’a: deliberate wrongdoing}, both you and your king {malkekhem: anointed sovereign} will be swept away.