Samuel’s Farewell Address

1  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) שְׁמוּאֵל֙ (Samuel) אֶל־ (to) כָּל־ (all) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (Israel), הִנֵּה֙ (Behold), שָׁמַ֣עְתִּי (I have listened) בְקֹֽלְכֶ֔ם (to your⁺ voice) לְכֹ֥ל (in all) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) אֲמַרְתֶּ֖ם (you⁺ said) לִ֑י (to me), וָאַמְלִ֥יךְ (and I have made reign) עֲלֵיכֶ֖ם (over you⁺) מֶֽלֶךְ׃ (a king). 2  וְעַתָּ֞ה (And) הִנֵּ֥ה (here is) הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ׀ (the king), מִתְהַלֵּ֣ךְ (walking) לִפְנֵיכֶ֗ם (before you⁺), וַאֲנִי֙ (and I) זָקַ֣נְתִּי (am old) וָשַׂ֔בְתִּי (and have become gray). וּבָנַ֖י (And my sons), הִנָּ֣ם (behold), אִתְּכֶ֑ם (are with you⁺), וַאֲנִי֙ (and I) הִתְהַלַּ֣כְתִּי (have walked) לִפְנֵיכֶ֔ם (before you⁺) מִנְּעֻרַ֖י (from my childhood) עַד־ (to) הַיּ֥וֹם (the day) הַזֶּֽה׃ (this).

3  הִנְנִ֣י (Behold). עֲנ֣וּ (Witness) בִי֩ (against me) נֶ֨גֶד (before) יְהוָ֜ה (YHWH) וְנֶ֣גֶד (and before) מְשִׁיח֗וֹ (His anointed). אֶת־ (-) שׁוֹר֩׀ (the ox) מִ֨י (of whom) לָקַ֜חְתִּי (have I taken)? וַחֲמ֧וֹר (Or the donkey) מִ֣י (of whom) לָקַ֗חְתִּי (have I taken)? וְאֶת־ (Or) מִ֤י (whom) עָשַׁ֙קְתִּי֙ (have I cheated)? אֶת־ (-) מִ֣י (whom) רַצּ֔וֹתִי (have I oppressed)? וּמִיַּד־ (Or from the hand) מִי֙ (of whom) לָקַ֣חְתִּי (have I received) כֹ֔פֶר (a bribe) וְאַעְלִ֥ים (and hidden) עֵינַ֖י (my eyes)? בּ֑וֹ (With it) וְאָשִׁ֖יב (and I will restore it) לָכֶֽם׃ (to you⁺).

4  וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ (And they said), לֹ֥א (Not) עֲשַׁקְתָּ֖נוּ (you have oppressed us) וְלֹ֣א (and not) רַצּוֹתָ֑נוּ (you have crushed us), וְלֹֽא־ (and not) לָקַ֥חְתָּ (have you taken) מִיַּד־ (from the hand) אִ֖ישׁ (of man) מְאֽוּמָה׃ (anything).

5  וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And he said) אֲלֵיהֶ֜ם (to them) עֵ֧ד (Is witness), יְהוָ֣ה (YHWH) בָּכֶ֗ם (against you⁺), וְעֵ֤ד (and is witness) מְשִׁיחוֹ֙ (His anointed) הַיּ֣וֹם (the day) הַזֶּ֔ה (this), כִּ֣י (that) לֹ֧א (not) מְצָאתֶ֛ם (you⁺ have found) בְּיָדִ֖י (in my hand) מְא֑וּמָה (anything).

וַיֹּ֖אמֶר (And he said), עֵֽד׃פ (Witness).

6  וַיֹּ֥אמֶר (And said) שְׁמוּאֵ֖ל (Samuel) אֶל־ (to) הָעָ֑ם (the people), יְהוָ֗ה (YHWH is) אֲשֶׁ֤ר (He who) עָשָׂה֙ (made) אֶת־ (-) מֹשֶׁ֣ה (Moses) וְאֶֽת־ (and) אַהֲרֹ֔ן (Aaron), וַאֲשֶׁ֧ר (and who) הֶעֱלָ֛ה (brought up) אֶת־ (-) אֲבֹתֵיכֶ֖ם (your⁺ fathers) מֵאֶ֥רֶץ (from the land) מִצְרָֽיִם׃ (of Egypt). 7  וְעַתָּ֗ה (And now) הִֽתְיַצְּב֛וּ (station yourselves), וְאִשָּׁפְטָ֥ה (and I will judge) אִתְּכֶ֖ם (with you⁺) לִפְנֵ֣י (before the face of) יְהוָ֑ה (YHWH) אֵ֚ת (-) כָּל־ (concerning all) צִדְק֣וֹת (the righteous acts) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) עָשָׂ֥ה (He did) אִתְּכֶ֖ם (for you⁺) וְאֶת־ (for you) אֲבוֹתֵיכֶֽם׃ (your⁺ fathers).

8  כַּֽאֲשֶׁר־ (When) בָּ֥א (had gone) יַעֲקֹ֖ב (Jacob) מִצְרָ֑יִם (into Egypt), וַיִּזְעֲק֤וּ (then cried out) אֲבֽוֹתֵיכֶם֙ (your⁺ fathers) אֶל־ (to) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH), וַיִּשְׁלַ֨ח (and sent) יְהוָ֜ה (YHWH) אֶת־ (-) מֹשֶׁ֣ה (Moses) וְאֶֽת־ (and) אַהֲרֹ֗ן (Aaron), וַיּוֹצִ֤יאוּ (and they brought out) אֶת־ (-) אֲבֹֽתֵיכֶם֙ (your⁺ fathers) מִמִּצְרַ֔יִם (from Egypt) וַיֹּשִׁב֖וּם (and made them dwell) בַּמָּק֥וֹם (in the place) הַזֶּֽה׃ (this). 9  וַֽיִּשְׁכְּח֖וּ (And they forgot) אֶת־ (-) יְהוָ֣ה (YHWH) אֱלֹהֵיהֶ֑ם (their God), וַיִּמְכֹּ֣ר (and He sold) אֹתָ֡ם (them) בְּיַ֣ד (into the hand) סִֽיסְרָא֩ (of Sisera) שַׂר־ (commander) צְבָ֨א (of the army) חָצ֜וֹר (of Hazor), וּבְיַד־ (and into the hand) פְּלִשְׁתִּ֗ים (of the Philistines), וּבְיַד֙ (and into the hand) מֶ֣לֶךְ (of the king) מוֹאָ֔ב (of Moab). וַיִּֽלָּחֲמ֖וּ (And they fought) בָּֽם׃ (against them).

10  וַיִּזְעֲק֤וּ (And they cried out) אֶל־ (to) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) וַיֹּאמֶר (and said), חָטָ֔אנוּ (We have sinned), כִּ֤י (because) עָזַ֙בְנוּ֙ (we have forsaken) אֶת־ (-) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH) וַנַּעֲבֹ֥ד (and served) אֶת־ (-) הַבְּעָלִ֖ים (the Baals) וְאֶת־ (and) הָעַשְׁתָּר֑וֹת (the Ashtoreths). וְעַתָּ֗ה (And) הַצִּילֵ֛נוּ (snatch us up) מִיַּ֥ד (from the hand) אֹיְבֵ֖ינוּ (of our enemies), וְנַעַבְדֶֽךָּ׃ (and we will serve You).

11  וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח (And sent) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) אֶת־ (-) יְרֻבַּ֣עַל (Jerubbaal), וְאֶת־ (and) בְּדָ֔ן (Bedan), וְאֶת־ (and) יִפְתָּ֖ח (Jephthah), וְאֶת־ (and) שְׁמוּאֵ֑ל (Samuel), וַיַּצֵּ֨ל (and He snatched up) אֶתְכֶ֜ם (you⁺) מִיַּ֤ד (out of the hand) אֹֽיְבֵיכֶם֙ (of your⁺ enemies) מִסָּבִ֔יב (on every side), וַתֵּשְׁב֖וּ (and you⁺ dwelt) בֶּֽטַח׃ (in safety). 12  וַתִּרְא֗וּ (And you⁺ saw) כִּֽי־ (that) נָחָ֞שׁ (Nahash) מֶ֣לֶךְ (king) בְּנֵֽי־ (of the) עַמּוֹן֮ (Ammonites) בָּ֣א (came) עֲלֵיכֶם֒ (against you⁺), וַתֹּ֣אמְרוּ (and you⁺ said) לִ֔י (to me), לֹ֕א (No), כִּי־ (but) מֶ֖לֶךְ (a king) יִמְלֹ֣ךְ (shall reign) עָלֵ֑ינוּ (over us)’ וַיהוָ֥ה (when YHWH) אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֖ם (your⁺ God) מַלְכְּכֶֽם׃ (was your⁺ king).

13  וְעַתָּ֗ה (And now) הִנֵּ֥ה (here is) הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ (the king) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (whom) בְּחַרְתֶּ֖ם (you⁺ have chosen) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (and whom) שְׁאֶלְתֶּ֑ם (you⁺ have desired). וְהִנֵּ֨ה (And behold), נָתַ֧ן (has set) יְהוָ֛ה (YHWH) עֲלֵיכֶ֖ם (over you⁺) מֶֽלֶךְ׃ (a king).

14  אִם־ (If) תִּֽירְא֣וּ (you⁺ fear) אֶת־ (-) יְהוָ֗ה (YHWH) וַעֲבַדְתֶּ֤ם (and serve) אֹתוֹ֙ (Him) וּשְׁמַעְתֶּ֣ם (and listen) בְּקֹל֔וֹ (to His voice), וְלֹ֥א (and not) תַמְר֖וּ (do rebel) אֶת־ (against) פִּ֣י (the commandment) יְהוָ֑ה (of YHWH), וִהְיִתֶ֣ם (then you⁺ will be well) גַּם־ (both) אַתֶּ֗ם (you⁺) וְגַם־ (and) הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ (the king) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (who) מָלַ֣ךְ (reigns) עֲלֵיכֶ֔ם (over you⁺) אַחַ֖ר (after) יְהוָ֥ה (YHWH) אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃ (your⁺ God). 15  וְאִם־ (But if) לֹ֤א (not) תִשְׁמְעוּ֙ (you⁺ do listen) בְּק֣וֹל (to the voice) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH), וּמְרִיתֶ֖ם (and rebel against) אֶת־ (against) פִּ֣י (the commandment) יְהוָ֑ה (of YHWH), וְהָיְתָ֧ה (then will be) יַד־ (the hand) יְהוָ֛ה (of YHWH) בָּכֶ֖ם (against you⁺), וּבַאֲבֹתֵיכֶֽם׃ (and as against your⁺ fathers).

16  גַּם־ (Therefore) עַתָּה֙ (now) הִתְיַצְּב֣וּ (stand) וּרְא֔וּ (and see) אֶת־ (-) הַדָּבָ֥ר (the thing) הַגָּד֖וֹל (great) הַזֶּ֑ה (this) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH) עֹשֶׂ֖ה (will do) לְעֵינֵיכֶֽם׃ (before your⁺ eyes). 17  הֲל֤וֹא (Is it not) קְצִיר־ (the harvest) חִטִּים֙ (of wheat) הַיּ֔וֹם (this day)? אֶקְרָא֙ (I will call) אֶל־ (to) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH), וְיִתֵּ֥ן (and He will send) קֹל֖וֹת (thunder) וּמָטָ֑ר (and rain), וּדְע֣וּ (that you⁺ may perceive) וּרְא֗וּ (and see) כִּֽי־ (that) רָעַתְכֶ֤ם (your⁺ wickedness is) רַבָּה֙ (great), אֲשֶׁ֤ר (which) עֲשִׂיתֶם֙ (you⁺ have done) בְּעֵינֵ֣י (in the eyes) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH) לִשְׁא֥וֹל (in asking) לָכֶ֖ם (for yourselves) מֶֽלֶךְ׃ס (a king).

18  וַיִּקְרָ֤א (And called) שְׁמוּאֵל֙ (Samuel) אֶל־ (to) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH), וַיִּתֵּ֧ן (and sent) יְהוָ֛ה (YHWH) קֹלֹ֥ת (thunder) וּמָטָ֖ר (and rain) בַּיּ֣וֹם (the day) הַה֑וּא (that).

וַיִּירָ֨א (And feared) כָל־ (all) הָעָ֥ם (the people) מְאֹ֛ד (greatly) אֶת־ (-) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) וְאֶת־ (and) שְׁמוּאֵֽל׃ (Samuel). 19  וַיֹּאמְר֨וּ (And said) כָל־ (all) הָעָ֜ם (the people) אֶל־ (to) שְׁמוּאֵ֗ל (Samuel), הִתְפַּלֵּ֧ל (Pray) בְּעַד־ (for) עֲבָדֶ֛יךָ (your servants) אֶל־ (to) יְהוָ֥ה (YHWH) אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ (your God), וְאַל־ (that not) נָמ֑וּת (we may die). כִּֽי־ (For) יָסַ֤פְנוּ (we have added) עַל־ (to) כָּל־ (all) חַטֹּאתֵ֙ינוּ֙ (our sins) רָעָ֔ה (the evil) לִשְׁאֹ֥ל (of asking) לָ֖נוּ (for ourselves) מֶֽלֶךְ׃ס (a king).

20  וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And said) שְׁמוּאֵ֤ל (Samuel) אֶל־ (to) הָעָם֙ (the people), אַל־ (Not) תִּירָ֔אוּ (do fear). אַתֶּ֣ם (You⁺) עֲשִׂיתֶ֔ם (have done) אֵ֥ת (-) כָּל־ (all) הָרָעָ֖ה (evil) הַזֹּ֑את (this); אַ֗ךְ (yet) אַל־ (not) תָּס֙וּרוּ֙ (do turn aside) מֵאַחֲרֵ֣י (from following) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH), וַעֲבַדְתֶּ֥ם (and serve) אֶת־ (-) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) בְּכָל־ (with all) לְבַבְכֶֽם׃ (your⁺ heart). 21  וְלֹ֖א (And not) תָּס֑וּרוּ (do turn aside) כִּ֣י׀ (as though) אַחֲרֵ֣י (after) הַתֹּ֗הוּ (the empty things) אֲשֶׁ֧ר (that) לֹֽא־ (not) יוֹעִ֛ילוּ (do profit) וְלֹ֥א (and not) יַצִּ֖ילוּ (deliver); כִּי־ (for) תֹ֥הוּ (nothing) הֵֽמָּה׃ (they are). 22  כִּ֠י (For) לֹֽא־ (not) יִטֹּ֤שׁ (will forsake) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) אֶת־ (-) עַמּ֔וֹ (His people) בַּעֲב֖וּר (for the sake) שְׁמ֣וֹ (of His name) הַגָּד֑וֹל (great), כִּ֚י (because) הוֹאִ֣יל (it has pleased) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH) לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת (to make) אֶתְכֶ֛ם (you⁺) ל֖וֹ (His) לְעָֽם׃ (people).

23  גַּ֣ם (Moreover) אָנֹכִ֗י (as for me), חָלִ֤ילָה (far be it from me) לִּי֙ (that I) מֵחֲטֹ֣א (should sin) לַֽיהוָ֔ה (against YHWH) מֵחֲדֹ֖ל (in ceasing) לְהִתְפַּלֵּ֣ל (to pray) בַּעַדְכֶ֑ם (for you⁺). וְהוֹרֵיתִ֣י (And I will teach) אֶתְכֶ֔ם (you⁺) בְּדֶ֥רֶךְ (way) הַטּוֹבָ֖ה (the good) וְהַיְשָׁרָֽה׃ (and the straight).

24  אַ֣ךְ׀ (Only) יְר֣אוּ (fear) אֶת־ (-) יְהוָ֗ה (YHWH) וַעֲבַדְתֶּ֥ם (and serve) אֹת֛וֹ (Him) בֶּאֱמֶ֖ת (in truth) בְּכָל־ (with all) לְבַבְכֶ֑ם (your⁺ heart); כִּ֣י (for) רְא֔וּ (consider) אֵ֥ת (-) אֲשֶׁר־ (that which) הִגְדִּ֖ל (He has made great) עִמָּכֶֽם׃ (with you⁺). 25  וְאִם־ (But if) הָרֵ֖עַ (doing evil) תָּרֵ֑עוּ (you⁺ do evil), גַּם־ (both) אַתֶּ֥ם (you⁺) גַּֽם־ (and) מַלְכְּכֶ֖ם (your⁺ king), תִּסָּפֽוּ׃פ (will be swept away).