1 Samuel 12:19-23

19Then all the people said to Samuel, “Pray to the Lord your God for your servants, so that we will not die, for we have added to all our sins this evil—to ask for a king for ourselves.”

20Samuel said to the people, “Do not be afraid. You have [indeed] done all this evil; yet do not turn away from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart.

21You must not turn away, for then you would go after futile things which cannot profit or rescue, because they are futile.

22The Lord will not abandon His people for His great name’s sake, because the Lord has been pleased to make you a people for Himself.

23Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you; but I will instruct you in the good and right way.