¹⁹ The people all said to Samuel, “Pray^(A) to the Lord your God for your servants so that we will not die,^(B) for we have added to all our other sins the evil of asking for a king.”

²⁰ “Do not be afraid,” Samuel replied. “You have done all this evil;^(C) yet do not turn away from the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. ²¹ Do not turn away after useless^(D) idols.^(E) They can do you no good, nor can they rescue you, because they are useless. ²² For the sake^(F) of his great name^(G) the Lord will not reject^(H) his people, because the Lord was pleased to make^(I) you his own. ²³ As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray^(J) for you. And I will teach^(K) you the way that is good and right. ²⁴ But be sure to fear^(L) the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart;^(M) consider^(N) what great^(O) things he has done for you.

⁴ It may be that the Lord your God will hear the words of the field commander, whom his master, the king of Assyria, has sent to ridicule^(A) the living God,^(B) and that he will rebuke him for the words the Lord your God has heard.^(C) Therefore pray^(D) for the remnant^(E) that still survives.”