1 Samuel 12 שְׁמוּאֵל א פרק י״ב

Masoretic Text, word by word with transliteration and English glosses, the English verse beneath each. Open 1 Samuel 12 in the interlinear reader for roots and notes, or listen to it read aloud in Hebrew.

1. 1

   וַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidשְׁמוּאֵלShe/mu/ELSamuelאֶל־כׇּל־יִשְׂרָאֵלel-Kol-yis/ra/ELto all Israelהִנֵּהhin/NEbeholdשָׁמַעְתִּיsha/MA/tiI have hearkenedבְקֹלְכֶםve/kol/KHEMto your voiceלְכֹלle/KHOLin allאֲשֶׁר־אֲמַרְתֶּםa/SHER-a/mar/TEMthat you have saidלִיlito meוָאַמְלִיךְva/am/LIKHand have made kingעֲלֵיכֶםa/le/KHEMover youמֶלֶךְ׃ME/lekha king

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

2. 2

   וְעַתָּהve/at/TAand nowהִנֵּהhin/NEbeholdהַמֶּלֶךְham/ME/lekhthe kingמִתְהַלֵּךְmit/hal/LEKHwalksלִפְנֵיכֶםlif/ne/KHEMbefore youוַאֲנִיva/a/NIand Iזָקַנְתִּיza/KAN/tiam oldוָשַׂבְתִּיva/SAV/tiand grayוּבָנַיu/va/NAYand my sonsהִנָּםhin/NAMbehold they areאִתְּכֶםit/te/KHEMwith youוַאֲנִיva/a/NIand Iהִתְהַלַּכְתִּיhit/hal/LAKH/tihave walkedלִפְנֵיכֶםlif/ne/KHEMbefore youמִנְּעֻרַיmin/ne/u/RAYfrom my youthעַד־הַיּוֹםad-hay/YOMto dayהַזֶּה׃haz/ZEthis

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

3. 3

   הִנְנִיhin/NIhere I amעֲנוּa/NUtestifyבִיviagainst meנֶגֶדNE/gedbeforeיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDוְנֶגֶדve/NE/gedand beforeמְשִׁיחוֹme/shi/CHOHis anointedאֶת־שׁוֹרet-shorthe ox ofמִיmiwhomלָקַחְתִּיla/KACH/tihave I takenוַחֲמוֹרva/cha/MORor the donkey ofמִיmiwhomלָקַחְתִּיla/KACH/tihave I takenוְאֶת־מִיve/ET-mior whomעָשַׁקְתִּיa/SHAK/tihave I oppressedאֶת־מִיet-miwhomרַצּוֹתִיrats/TSO/tihave I crushedוּמִיַּד־מִיu/miy/YAD-mior from whose handלָקַחְתִּיla/KACH/tihave I takenכֹפֶרKHO/fera bribeוְאַעְלִיםve/a/LIMto blindעֵינַיe/NAYmy eyesבּוֹbowith itוְאָשִׁיבve/a/SHIVand I will restore itלָכֶם׃la/KHEMto you

   Behold, here I am: witness against me before the LORD, 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 any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it you.

4. 4

   וַיֹּאמְרוּvay/yo/me/RUand they saidלֹאlonotעֲשַׁקְתָּנוּa/shak/TA/nuyou have oppressed usוְלֹאve/LOand notרַצּוֹתָנוּrats/tso/TA/nuyou have crushed usוְלֹא־לָקַחְתָּve/LO-la/KACH/tanor have you takenמִיַּד־אִישׁmiy/YAD-ishfrom anyone’s handמְאוּמָה׃me/U/maanything

   And they said, Thou hast not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither hast thou taken ought of any man's hand.

5. 5

   וַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand they saidאֲלֵיהֶםa/le/HEMto themעֵדedis witnessיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDבָּכֶםba/KHEMagainst youוְעֵדve/EDand is witnessמְשִׁיחוֹme/shi/CHOHis anointedהַיּוֹםhay/YOMdayהַזֶּהhaz/ZEthisכִּיkithatלֹאlonotמְצָאתֶםme/tsa/TEMyou have foundבְּיָדִיbe/ya/DIin my handמְאוּמָהme/U/maanythingוַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidעֵד׃edHe is witness

   And he said unto them, The LORD is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that ye have not found ought in my hand. And they answered, He is witness.

6. 6

   וַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidשְׁמוּאֵלShe/mu/ELSamuelאֶל־הָעָםel-ha/AMto the peopleיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDאֲשֶׁרa/SHERwhoעָשָׂהa/SAappointedאֶת־מֹשֶׁהet-Mo/SHEMosesוְאֶת־אַהֲרֹןve/ET-a/ha/RONand Aaronוַאֲשֶׁרva/a/SHERand whoהֶעֱלָהhe/e/LAbrought upאֶת־אֲבֹתֵיכֶםet-a/vo/te/KHEMyour fathersמֵאֶרֶץme/E/retsfrom the land ofמִצְרָיִם׃Mits/RA/yimEgypt

   And Samuel said unto the people, It is the LORD that advanced Moses and Aaron, and that brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt.

7. 7

   וְעַתָּהve/at/TAand nowהִתְיַצְּבוּhit/yats/tse/VUpresent yourselvesוְאִשָּׁפְטָהve/ish/sha/fe/TAthat I may reasonאִתְּכֶםit/te/KHEMwith youלִפְנֵיlif/NEbeforeיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDאֵת־כׇּל־צִדְקוֹתet-kol-tsid/KOTall the righteous acts ofיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDאֲשֶׁר־עָשָׂהa/SHER-a/SAwhich He didאִתְּכֶםit/te/KHEMwith youוְאֶת־אֲבוֹתֵיכֶם׃ve/ET-a/vo/te/KHEMand with your fathers

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

8. 8

   כַּאֲשֶׁר־בָּאka/a/SHER-bawhen had comeיַעֲקֹבYa/a/KOVJacobמִצְרָיִםMits/RA/yiminto Egyptוַיִּזְעֲקוּvay/yiz/a/KUand criedאֲבוֹתֵיכֶםa/vo/te/KHEMyour fathersאֶל־יְהֹוָהel-Adonaito the LORDוַיִּשְׁלַחvay/yish/LACHand sentיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDאֶת־מֹשֶׁהet-Mo/SHEMosesוְאֶת־אַהֲרֹןve/ET-a/ha/RONand Aaronוַיּוֹצִיאוּvay/yo/TSI/uand they brought outאֶת־אֲבֹתֵיכֶםet-a/vo/te/KHEMyour fathersמִמִּצְרַיִםmim/Mits/RA/yimout of Egyptוַיֹּשִׁבוּםvay/yo/shi/VUMand made them dwellבַּמָּקוֹםbam/ma/KOMin the placeהַזֶּה׃haz/ZEthis

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

9. 9

   וַיִּשְׁכְּחוּvay/yish/ke/CHUbut they forgotאֶת־יְהֹוָהet-Adonaithe LORDאֱלֹהֵיהֶםe/lo/he/HEMtheir Godוַיִּמְכֹּרvay/yim/KORand He soldאֹתָםo/TAMthemבְּיַדbe/YADinto the hand ofסִיסְרָאSi/se/RASiseraשַׂר־צְבָאsar-tse/VAcaptain of the army ofחָצוֹרCha/TSORHazorוּבְיַד־פְּלִשְׁתִּיםu/ve/YAD-pe/lish/TIMand into the hand of the Philistinesוּבְיַדu/ve/YADand into the hand ofמֶלֶךְME/lekhthe king ofמוֹאָבMo/AVMoabוַיִּלָּחֲמוּvay/yil/la/cha/MUand they foughtבָּם׃bamagainst them

   And when they forgat the LORD 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.

10. 10

    וַיִּזְעֲקוּvay/yiz/a/KUand they criedאֶל־יְהֹוָהel-Adonaito the LORD(ויאמר)vaymar[וַיֹּאמְרוּ]vay/yo/me/RUand saidחָטָאנוּcha/TA/nuwe have sinnedכִּיkibecauseעָזַבְנוּa/ZAV/nuwe have forsakenאֶת־יְהֹוָהet-Adonaithe LORDוַנַּעֲבֹדvan/na/a/VODand have servedאֶת־הַבְּעָלִיםet-Hab/be/a/LIMthe Baalimוְאֶת־הָעַשְׁתָּרוֹתve/ET-ha/ash/ta/ROTand the Ashtarothוְעַתָּהve/at/TAand nowהַצִּילֵנוּhats/tsi/LE/nudeliver usמִיַּדmiy/YADfrom the hand ofאֹיְבֵינוּoy/VE/nuour enemiesוְנַעַבְדֶךָּ׃ve/na/av/DEK/kaand we will serve You

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

11. 11

    וַיִּשְׁלַחvay/yish/LACHand sentיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDאֶת־יְרֻבַּעַלet-Ye/rub/BA/alJerubbaalוְאֶת־בְּדָןve/ET-be/DANand Bedanוְאֶת־יִפְתָּחve/ET-yif/TACHand Jephthahוְאֶת־שְׁמוּאֵלve/ET-she/mu/ELand Samuelוַיַּצֵּלvay/yats/TSELand deliveredאֶתְכֶםet/KHEMyouמִיַּדmiy/YADfrom the hand ofאֹיְבֵיכֶםoy/ve/KHEMyour enemiesמִסָּבִיבmis/sa/VIVon every sideוַתֵּשְׁבוּvat/tesh/VUand you dweltבֶּטַח׃BE/tachsecurely

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

12. 12

    וַתִּרְאוּvat/tir/Uand you sawכִּי־נָחָשׁki-Na/CHASHwhen NahashמֶלֶךְME/lekhthe king ofבְּנֵי־עַמּוֹןbe/NE-am/MONthe children of Ammonבָּאbacameעֲלֵיכֶםa/le/KHEMagainst youוַתֹּאמְרוּvat/to/me/RUand you saidלִיlito meלֹאlonoכִּי־מֶלֶךְki-ME/lekhbut a kingיִמְלֹךְyim/LOKHshall reignעָלֵינוּa/LE/nuover usוַיהֹוָהve-Adonaiand the LORDאֱלֹהֵיכֶםe/lo/he/KHEMyour Godמַלְכְּכֶם׃mal/ke/KHEMwas your king

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

13. 13

    וְעַתָּהve/at/TAand nowהִנֵּהhin/NEbeholdהַמֶּלֶךְham/ME/lekhthe kingאֲשֶׁרa/SHERwhomבְּחַרְתֶּםbe/char/TEMyou have chosenאֲשֶׁרa/SHERwhomשְׁאֶלְתֶּםshe/el/TEMyou have asked forוְהִנֵּהve/hin/NEand beholdנָתַןna/TANhas setיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDעֲלֵיכֶםa/le/KHEMover youמֶלֶךְ׃ME/lekha king

    Now therefore behold the king whom ye have chosen, and whom ye have desired! and, behold, the LORD hath set a king over you.

14. 14

    אִם־תִּירְאוּim-ti/re/Uif you fearאֶת־יְהֹוָהet-Adonaithe LORDוַעֲבַדְתֶּםva/a/vad/TEMand serveאֹתוֹo/TOHimוּשְׁמַעְתֶּםu/she/ma/TEMand hearkenבְּקוֹלוֹbe/ko/LOto His voiceוְלֹאve/LOand notתַמְרוּtam/RUrebel againstאֶת־פִּיet-pithe command ofיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDוִהְיִתֶםvih/yi/TEMthen shall beגַּם־אַתֶּםgam-at/TEMboth youוְגַם־הַמֶּלֶךְve/GAM-ham/ME/lekhand the kingאֲשֶׁרa/SHERwhoמָלַךְma/LAKHreignsעֲלֵיכֶםa/le/KHEMover youאַחַרa/CHARfollowingיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDאֱלֹהֵיכֶם׃e/lo/he/KHEMyour God

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

15. 15

    וְאִם־לֹאve/IM-lobut if notתִשְׁמְעוּtish/me/Uyou hearkenבְּקוֹלbe/KOLto the voice ofיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDוּמְרִיתֶםu/me/ri/TEMbut rebel againstאֶת־פִּיet-pithe command ofיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDוְהָיְתָהve/ha/ye/TAthen shall beיַד־יְהֹוָהyad-Adonaithe hand of the LORDבָּכֶםba/KHEMagainst youוּבַאֲבֹתֵיכֶם׃u/va/a/vo/te/KHEMas against your fathers

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

16. 16

    גַּם־עַתָּהgam-at/TAnow thereforeהִתְיַצְּבוּhit/yats/tse/VUpresent yourselvesוּרְאוּu/re/Uand seeאֶת־הַדָּבָרet-had/da/VARthe thingהַגָּדוֹלhag/ga/DOLgreatהַזֶּהhaz/ZEthisאֲשֶׁרa/SHERthatיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDעֹשֶׂהo/SEwill doלְעֵינֵיכֶם׃le/e/ne/KHEMbefore your eyes

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

17. 17

    הֲלוֹאha/LOis it notקְצִיר־חִטִּיםke/TSIR-chit/TIMthe wheat harvestהַיּוֹםhay/YOMtodayאֶקְרָאek/RAI will callאֶל־יְהֹוָהel-Adonaito the LORDוְיִתֵּןve/yit/TENand He will sendקֹלוֹתko/LOTthunderוּמָטָרu/ma/TARand rainוּדְעוּu/de/Uand knowוּרְאוּu/re/Uand seeכִּי־רָעַתְכֶםki-ra/at/KHEMthat your wickednessרַבָּהrab/BAis greatאֲשֶׁרa/SHERthatעֲשִׂיתֶםa/si/TEMyou have doneבְּעֵינֵיbe/e/NEin the eyes ofיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDלִשְׁאוֹלlish/OLin askingלָכֶםla/KHEMfor yourselvesמֶלֶךְ׃ME/lekha king

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

18. 18

    וַיִּקְרָאvay/yik/RAand calledשְׁמוּאֵלShe/mu/ELSamuelאֶל־יְהֹוָהel-Adonaito the LORDוַיִּתֵּןvay/yit/TENand sentיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDקֹלֹתko/LOTthunderוּמָטָרu/ma/TARand rainבַּיּוֹםbay/YOMon the dayהַהוּאha/HUthatוַיִּירָאvay/yi/RAand fearedכׇל־הָעָםkhol-ha/AMall the peopleמְאֹדme/ODgreatlyאֶת־יְהֹוָהet-Adonaithe LORDוְאֶת־שְׁמוּאֵל׃ve/ET-she/mu/ELand Samuel

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

19. 19

    וַיֹּאמְרוּvay/yo/me/RUand they saidכׇל־הָעָםkhol-ha/AMall the peopleאֶל־שְׁמוּאֵלel-She/mu/ELto Samuelהִתְפַּלֵּלhit/pal/LELprayבְּעַד־עֲבָדֶיךָbe/AD-a/va/DE/khafor your servantsאֶל־יְהֹוָהel-Adonaito the LORDאֱלֹהֶיךָe/lo/HE/khayour Godוְאַל־נָמוּתve/AL-na/MUTthat we may not dieכִּי־יָסַפְנוּki-ya/SAF/nufor we have addedעַל־כׇּל־חַטֹּאתֵינוּal-kol-chat/to/TE/nuto all our sinsרָעָהra/Aevilלִשְׁאֹלlish/OLto askלָנוּLA/nufor ourselvesמֶלֶךְ׃ME/lekha king

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

20. 20

    וַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidשְׁמוּאֵלShe/mu/ELSamuelאֶל־הָעָםel-ha/AMto the peopleאַל־תִּירָאוּal-ti/RA/udo not fearאַתֶּםat/TEMyouעֲשִׂיתֶםa/si/TEMhave doneאֵת־כׇּל־הָרָעָהet-kol-ha/ra/Aall the evilהַזֹּאתhaz/ZOTthisאַךְakhonlyאַל־תָּסוּרוּal-ta/SU/rudo not turn asideמֵאַחֲרֵיme/a/cha/REfrom followingיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDוַעֲבַדְתֶּםva/a/vad/TEMbut serveאֶת־יְהֹוָהet-Adonaithe LORDבְּכׇל־לְבַבְכֶם׃be/KHOL-le/vav/KHEMwith all your heart

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

21. 21

    וְלֹאve/LOand notתָּסוּרוּta/SU/ruturn asideכִּיkifor thenאַחֲרֵיa/cha/REafterהַתֹּהוּhat/TO/huempty thingsאֲשֶׁרa/SHERwhichלֹא־יוֹעִילוּlo-yo/I/lucannot profitוְלֹאve/LOnorיַצִּילוּyats/TSI/ludeliverכִּי־תֹהוּki-TO/hufor emptyהֵמָּה׃HEM/mathey are

    And turn ye not aside: for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain.

22. 22

    כִּיkiforלֹא־יִטֹּשׁlo-yit/TOSHwill not forsakeיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDאֶת־עַמּוֹet-am/MOHis peopleבַּעֲבוּרba/a/VURfor the sake ofשְׁמוֹshe/MOHis nameהַגָּדוֹלhag/ga/DOLgreatכִּיkibecauseהוֹאִילho/ILit has pleasedיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDלַעֲשׂוֹתla/a/SOTto makeאֶתְכֶםet/KHEMyouלוֹloHisלְעָם׃le/AMpeople

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

23. 23

    גַּםgammoreoverאָנֹכִיa/no/KHIas for meחָלִילָהcha/LI/lafar be itלִּיlifrom meמֵחֲטֹאme/cha/TOthat I should sinלַיהֹוָהla-Adonaiagainst the LORDמֵחֲדֹלme/cha/DOLby ceasingלְהִתְפַּלֵּלle/hit/pal/LELto prayבַּעַדְכֶםba/ad/KHEMfor youוְהוֹרֵיתִיve/ho/re/TIbut I will teachאֶתְכֶםet/KHEMyouבְּדֶרֶךְbe/DE/rekhthe wayהַטּוֹבָהhat/to/VAgoodוְהַיְשָׁרָה׃ve/hay/sha/RAand right

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

24. 24

    אַךְakhonlyיְראוּyer/Ufearאֶת־יְהֹוָהet-Adonaithe LORDוַעֲבַדְתֶּםva/a/vad/TEMand serveאֹתוֹo/TOHimבֶּאֱמֶתbe/e/METin truthבְּכׇל־לְבַבְכֶםbe/KHOL-le/vav/KHEMwith all your heartכִּיkiforרְאוּre/Uconsiderאֵת־אֲשֶׁר־הִגְדִּלet-a/SHER-hig/DILhow great things He has doneעִמָּכֶם׃im/ma/KHEMfor you

    Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you.

25. 25

    וְאִם־הָרֵעַve/IM-ha/RE/abut if do evilתָּרֵעוּta/RE/uyou do evilגַּם־אַתֶּםgam-at/TEMboth youגַּם־מַלְכְּכֶםgam-mal/ke/KHEMand your kingתִּסָּפוּ׃tis/sa/FUshall be swept away

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