1 Samuel 12:16-25

¹⁶Even now, take your stand and see this great thing which the Lord is going to do before your eyes. ¹⁷Is it not the wheat harvest today? I will call to the Lord, that He will send thunder and rain. Then you will know and see that your wickedness is great which you have done in the sight of the Lord, by asking for yourselves a king.” ¹⁸So Samuel called to the Lord, and the Lord sent thunder and rain that day; and all the people greatly feared the Lord and Samuel.

¹⁹Then all the people said to Samuel, “Pray to the Lord your God for your servants, so that we do not die; for we have added to all our sins this evil, by asking for ourselves a king.” ²⁰Samuel said to the people, “Do not fear. You have committed all this evil, yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. ²¹Indeed, you must not turn aside, for then you would go after useless things which cannot benefit or save, because they are useless. ²²For the Lord will not abandon His people on account of His great name, because the Lord has been pleased to make you a people for Himself. ²³Furthermore, as for me, far be it from me that I would sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you; but I will instruct you in the good and right way. ²⁴Only fear the Lord and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you. ²⁵But if you still do evil, both you and your king will be swept away.”