1 Samuel 12:21
19 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.
Do not turn aside after worthless things that cannot profit you or deliver you, for they are empty.
22 Indeed, for the sake of His great name, the LORD will not abandon His people, because He was pleased to make you His own.
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.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- Do not turn aside after worthless things that cannot profit you or deliver you, for they are empty.
- KJV
- And turn ye not aside: for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain.
- WEB
- Don’t turn away to go after vain things which can’t profit or deliver, for they are vain.
- ASV
- and turn ye not aside; for [then would ye go] after vain things which cannot profit nor deliver, for they are vain.
- DARBY
- and turn ye not aside; for [it would be] after vain things which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain.
- BLB
- And do not turn aside as though after the empty things that do not profit and do not deliver; for they [are] nothing.
- ÅB
- Vik ikke av! For da måtte dere følge de tomme avguder, som ikke kan gagne og ikke redde, fordi de er bare tomhet.
- OTB
- Og vend dere ikke bort for å følge tomme ting som ikke kan gagne eller frelse, for de er ingenting.
- B1930
- Vik ikke av! For da måtte I følge de tomme avguder, som ikke kan gagne og ikke redde, fordi de er bare tomhet.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Habakkuk 2:18
What use is an idol, that a craftsman should carve it— or an image, a teacher of lies? For its maker trusts in his own creation; he makes idols that cannot speak.
Read in contextJeremiah 16:19
O LORD, my strength and my fortress, my refuge in the day of distress, the nations will come to You from the ends of the earth, and they will say, “Our fathers inherited nothing but lies, worthless idols of no benefit at all.
Read in contextJeremiah 10:15
They are worthless, a work to be mocked. In the time of their punishment they will perish.
Read in contextDeuteronomy 11:16
But be careful that you are not enticed to turn aside to worship and bow down to other gods,
Read in contextJeremiah 14:22
Can the worthless idols of the nations bring rain? Do the skies alone send showers? Is this not by You, O LORD our God? So we put our hope in You, for You have done all these things.
Read in contextIsaiah 45:20
Come, gather together, and draw near, you fugitives from the nations. Ignorant are those who carry idols of wood and pray to a god that cannot save.
Read in contextIsaiah 46:7
They lift it to their shoulder and carry it along; they set it in its place, and there it stands, not budging from that spot. They cry out to it, but it does not answer; it saves no one from his troubles.
Read in contextJonah 2:8
Those who cling to worthless idols forsake His loving devotion.
Read in context