1 Samuel 12:1-5

New Catholic Bible

Chapter 12^[a]

Samuel’s Innocence. ¹ Samuel said to all of Israel, “I have listened to everything you said to me and I have appointed a king over you. ² Now you have a king leading you. I am old and gray, and my sons are in your presence. I have led you from the days of my youth up to the present. ³ Behold, I testify against you in the presence of the Lord and his anointed. Whose ox have I taken? Whose donkey have I taken? Whom have I cheated? Whom have I oppressed? From whose hands did I receive a bribe to close my eyes? I am willing to restore it all to you.”

⁴ They answered, “You have not cheated us nor have you oppressed us, nor have you taken anything from anyone’s hands.” ⁵ So Samuel said, “The Lord is a witness before you, and the anointed is also a witness before you, that you have not found anything in my hands.” They answered, “He is our witness.”