1 Samuel 12:20

Fear Serving others Repentance Forgiveness

¹⁸ So Samuel called unto the LORD; and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day: and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel.

¹⁹ 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.

And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not: ye have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart;

²¹ And turn ye not aside: for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain.

²² For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name’s sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people.

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

Compare

BSB: “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.
KJV: And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not: ye have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart;
WEB: Samuel said to the people, “Don’t be afraid. You have indeed done all this evil; yet don’t turn away from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart.
ASV: And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not; ye have indeed done all this evil; yet turn not aside from following Jehovah, but serve Jehovah with all your heart:
DARBY: And Samuel said to the people, Fear not: *ye* have done all this wickedness; yet turn not aside from following Jehovah, and serve Jehovah with all your heart;
BLB: And Samuel said to the people, “Do not be afraid. You⁺ have done all this evil; yet do not turn aside from following YHWH, and serve YHWH with all your⁺ heart.

ÅB: Da sa Samuel til folket: Frykt ikke! Dere har gjort alt dette onde; men vik nå bare ikke fra Herren, men tjen Herren av hele deres hjerte!
OTB: Da sa Samuel til folket: «Frykt ikke. Dere har gjort all denne ondskapen, men vend dere ikke bort fra å følge Herren, men tjen Herren av hele deres hjerte.
B1930: Da sa Samuel til folket: Frykt ikke! I har gjort alt dette onde; men vik nu bare ikke fra Herren, men tjen Herren av hele eders hjerte!

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Deuteronomy 11:16
Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them;
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Joshua 23:6
Be ye therefore very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that ye turn not aside therefrom to the right hand or to the left;
Read in context
Psalms 101:3
I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.
Read in context
Psalms 125:5
As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, the LORD shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity: but peace shall be upon Israel.
Read in context
1 Peter 3:16
Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.
Read in context
Jeremiah 3:1
They say, If a man put away his wife, and she go from him, and become another man’s, shall he return unto her again? shall not that land be greatly polluted? but thou hast played the harlot with many lovers; yet return again to me, saith the LORD.
Read in context
Deuteronomy 31:29
For I know that after my death ye will utterly corrupt yourselves, and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you; and evil will befall you in the latter days; because ye will do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger through the work of your hands.
Read in context
Exodus 20:19–20
And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.
Read in context