⁶ When they said, ‘Give us a king to judge us,’ Samuel considered their demand wrong, so he prayed to the Lord.

¹⁷ Isn’t the wheat harvest today?^(A) I will call on the Lord, and he will send thunder and rain so that you will recognise what an immense evil you committed in the Lord’s sight by requesting a king for yourselves.’^(B)

¹⁹ They pleaded with Samuel, ‘Pray to the Lord your God for your servants^(A) so we won’t die! For we have added to all our sins the evil of requesting a king for ourselves.’^(B)

²³ ‘As for me, I vow that I will not sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you.^(A) I will teach you the good and right way.