1 Samuel 12:19

¹⁷ Is it not the wheat harvest today? I will call on the LORD to send thunder and rain, so that you will know and see what a great evil you have committed in the sight of the LORD by asking for a king.”

¹⁸ So Samuel called to the LORD, and on that day the LORD sent thunder and rain. As a result, all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel.

They pleaded with Samuel, “Pray to the LORD your God for your servants so that we will not die! For we have added to all our sins the evil of asking for a king.”

²⁰ “Do not be afraid,” Samuel replied. “Even though you have committed all this evil, do not turn aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart.

²¹ Do not turn aside after worthless things that cannot profit you or deliver you, for they are empty.

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: They pleaded with Samuel, “Pray to the LORD your God for your servants so that we will not die! For we have added to all our sins the evil of asking for a king.”
KJV: 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.
WEB: All the people said to Samuel, “Pray for your servants to the LORD your God, that we not die; for we have added to all our sins this evil, to ask for a king.”
ASV: And all the people said unto Samuel, Pray for thy servants unto Jehovah thy God, that we die not; for we have added unto all our sins [this] evil, to ask us a king.
DARBY: And all the people said to Samuel, Pray to Jehovah thy God for thy servants, that we die not; for we have added to all our sins the wickedness to ask for ourselves a king.
BLB: And all the people said to Samuel, “Pray for your servants to YHWH your God, that we may not die. For we have added to all our sins the evil of asking for ourselves a king.”

ÅB: Og alt folket sa til Samuel: Be for dine tjenere til Herren din Gud, så vi ikke skal dø fordi vi til alle våre andre synder har lagt den misgjerning å kreve en konge!
OTB: Og hele folket sa til Samuel: «Be for dine tjenere til Herren din Gud, så vi ikke dør; for vi har lagt til alle våre synder denne ondskapen, å be om en konge for oss selv.»
B1930: Og alt folket sa til Samuel: Bed for dine tjenere til Herren din Gud, så vi ikke skal dø fordi vi til alle våre andre synder har lagt den misgjerning å kreve en konge!

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Exodus 9:28
Pray to the LORD, for there has been enough of God’s thunder and hail. I will let you go; you do not need to stay any longer.”
Read in context
1 John 5:16
If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he should ask God, who will give life to those who commit this kind of sin. There is a sin that leads to death; I am not saying he should ask regarding that sin.
Read in context
1 Samuel 12:23
As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you. And I will continue to teach you the good and right way.
Read in context
Exodus 10:17
Now please forgive my sin once more and appeal to the LORD your God, that He may remove this death from me.”
Read in context
1 Samuel 7:5
Then Samuel said, “Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray to the LORD on your behalf.”
Read in context
Acts 8:24
Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me, so that nothing you have said may happen to me.”
Read in context
James 5:15
And the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick. The Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.
Read in context
Jeremiah 15:1
Then the LORD said to me: “Even if Moses and Samuel should stand before Me, My heart would not go out to this people. Send them from My presence, and let them go.
Read in context