Revised Literal Translation

1 Samuel 12

1And Samuelשְׁמוּאֵל֙she.mu.'ElH8050saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto all Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478,Behold, I have hearkenedשָׁמַ֣עְתִּיsha.Ma'.tiH8085unto your voiceבְקֹֽלְכֶ֔םve.ko.le.KhemH6963in all that ye saidאֲמַרְתֶּ֖ם'a.mar.TemH559unto me, and have madeוָאַמְלִ֥יךְva.'am.LikhH4427a kingמֶֽלֶךְ׃Me.lekhH4428over you.

2And now, behold, the kingהַמֶּ֣לֶךְ׀ha.Me.lekhH4428walkethמִתְהַלֵּ֣ךְmit.ha.LekhH1980beforeלִפְנֵיכֶ֗םlif.nei.KhemH6440you: and I am oldזָקַ֣נְתִּיza.Kan.tiH2204and grayheadedוָשַׂ֔בְתִּיva.Sav.tiH7867;and, behold, my sonsוּבָנַ֖יu.va.NaiH1121arewith you: and I have walkedהִתְהַלַּ֣כְתִּיhit.ha.Lakh.tiH1980beforeלִפְנֵיכֶ֔םlif.nei.KhemH6440you from my childhoodמִנְּעֻרַ֖יmi.ne.'u.RaiH5271unto this dayהַיּ֥וֹםhai.YomH3117.

3Behold, here I am:witnessעֲנ֣וּ'a.NuH6030against me before Yhwhיְהוָ֜הYah.wehH3068,and before his anointedמְשִׁיח֗וֹme.shi.ChoH4899:whose oxשׁוֹר֩׀shOrH7794have I takenH3947?or whose donkeyוַחֲמ֧וֹרva.cha.MorH2543have I takenH3947?or whom have I defraudedעָשַׁ֙קְתִּי֙'a.Shak.tiH6231?whom have I oppressedרַצּ֔וֹתִיra.Tzo.tiH7533?or of whose handוּמִיַּד־u.mi.yad-H3027have I received anybribeכֹ֔פֶרKho.ferH3724to blindוְאַעְלִ֥יםve.'a'.LimH5956mine eyesעֵינַ֖י'ei.NaiH5869therewith? and I will restoreוְאָשִׁ֖יבve.'a.ShivH7725it you.

4And they saidוַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּvai.Yo.me.RuH559,Thou hast not defraudedעֲשַׁקְתָּ֖נוּ'a.shak.Ta.nuH6231us, nor oppressedרַצּוֹתָ֑נוּra.tzo.Ta.nuH7533us, neither hast thou takenלָקַ֥חְתָּla.Kach.taH3947oughtמְאֽוּמָה׃me.'U.mahH3972of any man’sאִ֖ישׁ'ishH376handמִיַּד־mi.yad-H3027.

5And he saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto them, Yhwhיְהוָ֣הYah.wehH3068iswitnessעֵ֧ד'edH5707against you, and his anointedמְשִׁיחוֹ֙me.shi.ChoH4899iswitnessוְעֵ֤דve.'EdH5707this dayהַיּ֣וֹםhai.YomH3117,that ye have not foundמְצָאתֶ֛םme.tza.TemH4672oughtמְא֑וּמָהme.'U.mahH3972in my handבְּיָדִ֖יbe.ya.DiH3027.And they answeredוַיֹּ֖אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, He iswitnessעֵֽד׃ פ'EdH5707.

6And Samuelשְׁמוּאֵ֖לshe.mu.'ElH8050saidוַיֹּ֥אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto the peopleהָעָ֑םha.'AmH5971, It isYhwhיְהוָ֗הYah.wehH3068that advancedעָשָׂה֙'a.SahH6213Mosesמֹשֶׁ֣הmo.ShehH4872and Aaronאַהֲרֹ֔ן'a.ha.RonH175,and that broughtH5927your fathersאֲבֹתֵיכֶ֖ם'a.vo.tei.KhemH1upH5927out of the landמֵאֶ֥רֶץme.'E.retzH776of Egyptמִצְרָֽיִם׃mitz.Ra.yimH4714.

7Now therefore stand stillהִֽתְיַצְּב֛וּhit.ya.tze.VuH3320,that I may reasonוְאִשָּׁפְטָ֥הve.'i.sha.fe.TahH8199with you beforeלִפְנֵ֣יlif.NeiH6440Yhwhיְהוָ֑הYah.wehH3068of all the righteous actsצִדְק֣וֹתtzid.KotH6666of Yhwhיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068,which he didעָשָׂ֥ה'a.SahH6213to you and to your fathersאֲבוֹתֵיכֶֽם׃'a.vo.tei.KhemH1.

8When Jacobיַעֲקֹ֖בya.'a.KoH3290was comeבָּ֥אba'H935into Egyptמִצְרָ֑יִםmitz.Ra.yimH4714,and your fathersאֲבֽוֹתֵיכֶם֙'a.vo.tei.KhemH1criedוַיִּזְעֲק֤וּvai.yiz.'a.KuH2199unto Yhwhיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068,Then Yhwhיְהוָ֜הYah.wehH3068sentוַיִּשְׁלַ֨חvai.yish.LachH7971Mosesמֹשֶׁ֣הmo.ShehH4872and Aaronאַהֲרֹ֗ן'a.ha.RonH175,which brought forthוַיּוֹצִ֤יאוּvai.yo.Tzi.'uH3318your fathersאֲבֹֽתֵיכֶם֙'a.vo.tei.KhemH1out of Egyptמִמִּצְרַ֔יִםmi.mitz.Ra.yimH4714,and made them dwellוַיֹּשִׁב֖וּםvai.yo.shi.VumH3427in this placeבַּמָּק֥וֹםba.ma.KomH4725.

9And when they forgatוַֽיִּשְׁכְּח֖וּvai.yish.ke.ChuH7911Yhwhיְהוָ֣הYah.wehH3068their Godאֱלֹהֵיהֶ֑ם'e.lo.hei.HemH430,he soldוַיִּמְכֹּ֣רvai.yim.KorH4376them into the handבְּיַ֣דbe.YadH3027of Siseraסִֽיסְרָא֩si.se.Ra'H5516,captainשַׂר־sar-H8269of the armyצְבָ֨אtze.Va'H6635of Hazorחָצ֜וֹרcha.TzorH2674,and into the handוּבְיַד־u.ve.yad-H3027of the Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּ֗יםpe.lish.TimH6430,and into the handוּבְיַד֙u.ve.YadH3027of the kingמֶ֣לֶךְMe.lekhH4428of Moabמוֹאָ֔בmo.'AvH4124,and they foughtוַיִּֽלָּחֲמ֖וּvai.yi.la.cha.MuH3898against them.

10And they criedוַיִּזְעֲק֤וּvai.yiz.'a.KuH2199unto Yhwhיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068,and saidוַיֹּאמְר֣וּvai.yo.merH559,We have sinnedחָטָ֔אנוּcha.Ta.nuH2398,because we have forsakenעָזַ֙בְנוּ֙'a.Zav.nuH5800Yhwhיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068,and have servedוַנַּעֲבֹ֥דva.na.'a.VodH5647Baalimהַבְּעָלִ֖יםha.be.'a.LimH1168and Ashtarothהָעַשְׁתָּר֑וֹתha.'ash.ta.RotH6252:but now deliverהַצִּילֵ֛נוּha.tzi.Le.nuH5337us out of the handמִיַּ֥דmi.YadH3027of our enemiesאֹיְבֵ֖ינוּ'o.ye.Vei.nuH341,and we will serveוְנַעַבְדֶֽךָּ׃ve.na.'av.De.kaH5647thee.

11And Yhwhיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068sentוַיִּשְׁלַ֤חvai.yish.LachH7971Jerubbaalיְרֻבַּ֣עַלye.ru.Ba.'alH3378,and Bedanבְּדָ֔ןbe.DanH917,and Jephthahיִפְתָּ֖חyif.TachH3316,and Samuelשְׁמוּאֵ֑לshe.mu.'ElH8050,and deliveredוַיַּצֵּ֨לvai.ya.TzelH5337you out of the handמִיַּ֤דmi.YadH3027of your enemiesאֹֽיְבֵיכֶם֙'o.ye.vei.KhemH341on every sideמִסָּבִ֔יבmi.sa.VivH5439,and ye dwelledוַתֵּשְׁב֖וּva.te.she.VuH3427safeבֶּֽטַח׃Be.tachH983.

12And when ye sawוַתִּרְא֗וּva.tir.'UH7200that Nahashנָחָ֞שׁna.ChashH5176the kingמֶ֣לֶךְMe.lekhH4428of the childrenבְּנֵֽי־be.nei-H1121of Ammonעַמּוֹן֮'a.mOnH5983cameבָּ֣אba'H935against you, ye saidוַתֹּ֣אמְרוּva.To.me.ruH559unto me, Nay; but a kingמֶ֖לֶךְMe.lekhH4428shall reignיִמְלֹ֣ךְyim.LokhH4427over us: when Yhwhוַיהוָ֥הva.Yah.wehH3068your Godאֱלֹהֵיכֶ֖ם'e.lo.hei.KhemH430wasyour kingמַלְכְּכֶֽם׃mal.ke.KhemH4428.

13Now therefore behold the kingהַמֶּ֛לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428whom ye have chosenבְּחַרְתֶּ֖םbe.char.TemH977, andwhom ye have desiredשְׁאֶלְתֶּ֑םshe.'el.TemH7592!And, behold, Yhwhיְהוָ֛הYah.wehH3068hath setנָתַ֧ןna.TanH5414a kingמֶֽלֶךְ׃Me.lekhH4428over you.

14If ye will fearתִּֽירְא֣וּti.re.'UH3372Yhwhיְהוָ֗הYah.wehH3068,and serveוַעֲבַדְתֶּ֤םva.'a.vad.TemH5647him, and obeyוּשְׁמַעְתֶּ֣םu.she.ma'.TemH8085his voiceבְּקֹל֔וֹbe.ko.LoH6963,and not rebelתַמְר֖וּtam.RuH4784against the commandmentפִּ֣יpiH6310of Yhwhיְהוָ֑הYah.wehH3068,then shall both ye and also the kingהַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ha.Me.lekhH4428that reignethמָלַ֣ךְma.LakhH4427over you continue followingאַחַ֖ר'a.CharH310Yhwhיְהוָ֥הYah.wehH3068your Godאֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃'e.lo.hei.KhemH430:

15But if ye will not obeyתִשְׁמְעוּ֙tish.me.'UH8085the voiceבְּק֣וֹלbe.KolH6963of Yhwhיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068,but rebelוּמְרִיתֶ֖םu.me.ri.TemH4784against the commandmentפִּ֣יpiH6310of Yhwhיְהוָ֑הYah.wehH3068,then shall the handיַד־yad-H3027of Yhwhיְהוָ֛הYah.wehH3068be against you, as it wasagainst your fathersוּבַאֲבֹתֵיכֶֽם׃u.va.'a.vo.tei.KhemH1.

16Now thereforeגַּם־gam-H1571standהִתְיַצְּב֣וּhit.ya.tze.VuH3320and seeוּרְא֔וּu.re.'UH7200this greatהַגָּד֖וֹלha.ga.DolH1419thingהַדָּבָ֥רha.da.VarH1697,which Yhwhיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068will doעֹשֶׂ֖ה'o.SehH6213before your eyesלְעֵינֵיכֶֽם׃le.'ei.nei.KhemH5869.

17Is itnot wheatחִטִּים֙chi.TimH2406harvestקְצִיר־ke.tzir-H7105to dayהַיּ֔וֹםhai.YomH3117?I will callאֶקְרָא֙'ek.Ra'H7121unto Yhwhיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068,and he shall sendוְיִתֵּ֥ןve.yi.TenH5414thunderקֹל֖וֹתko.LotH6963and rainוּמָטָ֑רu.ma.TarH4306;that ye may perceiveוּדְע֣וּu.de.'UH3045and seeוּרְא֗וּu.re.'UH7200that your wickednessרָעַתְכֶ֤םra.'at.KhemH7451isgreatרַבָּה֙ra.BahH7227,which ye have doneעֲשִׂיתֶם֙'a.si.TemH6213in the sightבְּעֵינֵ֣יbe.'ei.NeiH5869of Yhwhיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068,in askingלִשְׁא֥וֹלlish.'olH7592you a kingמֶֽלֶךְ׃ סMe.lekhH4428.

18So Samuelשְׁמוּאֵל֙she.mu.'ElH8050calledוַיִּקְרָ֤אvai.yik.Ra'H7121unto Yhwhיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068;And Yhwhיְהוָ֛הYah.wehH3068sentוַיִּתֵּ֧ןvai.yi.TenH5414thunderקֹלֹ֥תko.LotH6963and rainוּמָטָ֖רu.ma.TarH4306that dayבַּיּ֣וֹםbai.YomH3117:and all the peopleהָעָ֥םha.'AmH5971greatlyמְאֹ֛דme.'OdH3966fearedוַיִּירָ֨אvai.yi.Ra'H3372Yhwhיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068and Samuelשְׁמוּאֵֽל׃she.mu.'ElH8050.

19And all the peopleהָעָ֜םha.'AmH5971saidוַיֹּאמְר֨וּvai.yo.me.RuH559unto Samuelשְׁמוּאֵ֗לshe.mu.'ElH8050,Prayהִתְפַּלֵּ֧לhit.pa.LelH6419for thy servantsעֲבָדֶ֛יךָ'a.va.Dei.khaH5650unto Yhwhיְהוָ֥הYah.wehH3068thy Godאֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ'e.lo.Hei.khaH430,that we dieנָמ֑וּתna.MutH4191not: for we have addedיָסַ֤פְנוּya.Saf.nuH3254unto all our sinsחַטֹּאתֵ֙ינוּ֙cha.to.Tei.nuH2403thisevilרָעָ֔הra.'AhH7451,to askלִשְׁאֹ֥לlish.'OlH7592us a kingמֶֽלֶךְ׃ סMe.lekhH4428.

20And Samuelשְׁמוּאֵ֤לshe.mu.'ElH8050saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto the peopleהָעָם֙ha.'AmH5971,Fearתִּירָ֔אוּti.Ra.'uH3372not: ye have doneעֲשִׂיתֶ֔ם'a.si.TemH6213all this wickednessהָרָעָ֖הha.ra.'AhH7451:yet turn not asideתָּס֙וּרוּ֙ta.Su.ruH5493from followingמֵאַחֲרֵ֣יme.'a.cha.ReiH310Yhwhיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068,but serveוַעֲבַדְתֶּ֥םva.'a.vad.TemH5647Yhwhיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068with all your heartלְבַבְכֶֽם׃le.vav.KhemH3824;

21And turn ye not asideתָּס֑וּרוּta.Su.ruH5493: for then should ye goafterאַחֲרֵ֣י'a.cha.ReiH310vainהַתֹּ֗הוּha.To.huH8414things,which cannot profitיוֹעִ֛ילוּyo.'I.luH3276nor deliverיַצִּ֖ילוּya.Tzi.luH5337; for they arevainתֹ֥הוּTo.huH8414.

22For Yhwhיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068will not forsakeיִטֹּ֤שׁyi.ToshH5203his peopleעַמּ֔וֹa.MoH5971for his greatהַגָּד֑וֹלha.ga.DolH1419name’sשְׁמ֣וֹshe.MoH8034sake: because it hath pleasedהוֹאִ֣ילho.'IlH2974Yhwhיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068to makeלַעֲשׂ֥וֹתla.'a.SotH6213you his peopleלְעָֽם׃le.'AmH5971.

23Moreover as for meאָנֹכִ֗י'a.no.KhiH595,God forbidחָלִ֤ילָהcha.Li.lahH2486that I should sinמֵחֲטֹ֣אme.cha.To'H2398against Yhwhלַֽיהוָ֔הla.Yah.wehH3068in ceasingמֵחֲדֹ֖לme.cha.DolH2308to prayלְהִתְפַּלֵּ֣לle.hit.pa.LelH6419for you: but I will teachוְהוֹרֵיתִ֣יve.ho.rei.TiH3384you the goodהַטּוֹבָ֖הha.to.VahH2896and the rightוְהַיְשָׁרָֽה׃ve.hay.sha.RahH3477wayבְּדֶ֥רֶךְbe.De.rekhH1870:

24Only fearיְר֣אוּye.R.'uH3372Yhwhיְהוָ֗הYah.wehH3068,and serveוַעֲבַדְתֶּ֥םva.'a.vad.TemH5647him in truthבֶּאֱמֶ֖תbe.'e.MetH571with all your heartלְבַבְכֶ֑םle.vav.KhemH3824:for considerרְא֔וּre.'UH7200how great thingshe hath doneהִגְדִּ֖לhig.DilH1431for you.

25But if ye shall stillהָרֵ֖עַha.Re.a'H7489do wickedlyתָּרֵ֑עוּta.Re.'uH7489,ye shall be consumedתִּסָּפֽוּ׃ פti.sa.FuH5595,both ye and your kingמַלְכְּכֶ֖םmal.ke.KhemH4428.

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 12