This verse records the fulfillment of Samuel’s words in the previous verse, using much of the same vocabulary. But the idea of the people’s awareness of their wrongdoing is worded differently.

Feared: see the comments on verse 14. This Hebrew verb is often rendered “to fear” in English, even though in certain contexts it expresses more the idea of “to consider with awe or reverence.” Most versions of this verse agree with the understanding found in Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation. Notice, however, that New Jerusalem Bible says “and all the people held Yahweh and Samuel in great awe.” The following verse, however, seems to support the translation “feared.”

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

Your servants: the people refer to themselves in the third person. This indirect reference may be better translated by the first person plural object pronoun “us” as in Good News Translation, or by “us, your servants” as in Revised English Bible, New American Bible, and New Century Version.

Even though the Israelite people worship the same God as Samuel, here they say the LORD your God instead of “the LORD, our God.” This way of referring to God is an admission that they have sinned against God and do not have the same standing before God that Samuel has. So it will be important to retain the translation your God while changing your servants to “us” in most languages. See also 15.30.

That we may not die: the people are not asking that God will permit them to live forever. The sense is “Pray to God for us so that God will not cause us to die” or “Ask God not to punish us [for this] by taking our lives.”

We have added to all our sins this evil: this shows an awareness of many other sins against Yahweh prior to the people’s asking for a king. Knox captures the idea by translating “we had sinned enough already, and now we have done him further wrong.”

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

Fear not: see the comments at 4.20, where the same expression is used in the singular. Here it is plural. Samuel wants to reassure the people that, in spite of their sin, all is not lost.

The words all this evil seem to refer to the evil of asking for a king. For this reason Good News Translation says “such an evil thing,” and Klein says “this great evil.” But it is possible that Samuel is referring also to the evil done by their ancestors (verses 6-11).

Yet: this translates the Hebrew adverb often rendered “only” (as in 1.23 and 8.9). It is so translated here by Moffatt. Some have rendered it “still” (New American Bible) or “but now” (Knox). But others restructure the entire clause beginning with the word “Although.” New Jerusalem Bible, for example, says “Although you have done all these wicked things, do not withdraw your allegiance from Yahweh.”

Serve the LORD with all your heart: Samuel’s words remind the reader of Moses’ words of exhortation in Deut 10.12; 11.13. Regarding the heart, see the comments on 1.8, and on the overall expression with all your heart, see 7.3.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

Footnotes in both Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation state that the Masoretic Text says “and do not turn aside because after vain things.” It is difficult to see how the conjunction “because” can be translated here. All translations seem to omit it, and translators in other languages will probably do so also. It should be noted, however, that the Hebrew word ky may be understood as a demonstrative particle expressing a strong positive statement here, rather than as a conjunction meaning “because.” Fox, for example, says “You are not to turn-aside, indeed, after the (gods of) confusion.”

The verb rendered turn aside after means to leave one thing for the purpose of following another. In this context it may be translated “abandon” or “desert” (Knox), “transfer your allegiance” (New Jerusalem Bible), or “swerve in search of” (Moffatt).

Vain things: literally “nothingness.” This term refers to “false gods” in Isa 41.29; 44.9. New International Version renders the term here in 1 Samuel “useless idols.” Some other renderings are “sham gods” (Revised English Bible) and “meaningless idols” (New American Bible). The repetition at the end of the verse of the fact that these idols are vain is intentional and is meant to emphasize the uselessness of all gods other than Yahweh. New American Bible translates “they are nothing.”

The words which cannot profit speak of bringing no benefit or doing no good. But this is not primarily a reference to material benefit. The term used in translation should have a more general meaning.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

The transition word For at the beginning of this verse introduces the reason why the people of Israel are encouraged not to abandon the LORD. It is because the LORD will not reject his people that they should not reject him. Certain modern versions reverse the order of the elements in this verse, placing the reason at the end: “For his great name’s sake the LORD will not cast you off, because he has resolved to make you his own people” (Revised English Bible). La Bible du Semeur, which has likewise restructured the order of the clauses, may provide a good model for some languages: “It has pleased the LORD to make you his people. That is why he will never abandon you, for he is bent on making his great name honored.”

For his great name’s sake: in Hebrew thought, one’s name was an expression of one’s being or one’s nature. The translation “For his own sake” (New Century Version) correctly expresses the meaning in English. The sense is that God will not abandon his people, because his reputation would suffer if he were to do so. It is not clear why Good News Translation translates this phrase as “has made a solemn promise.” Such a translation fails to express the correct meaning of the Hebrew.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

Moreover: is literally “Also,” introducing a further consideration in addition to the fact that God will not abandon his people. Samuel will also continue to pray for them.

As for me: represents the emphatic personal pronoun “I.”

Far be it from me: see the comments on this expression in 2.30.

Pray for you: see verse 19. In this context the verb “to pray” means “to intercede [on your behalf with God].”

I will instruct you in the good and the right way: these words should probably be understood as introducing the specific instructions of verse 24. Notice that Revised English Bible places a colon at the end of verse 23, showing the relationship more clearly: “I shall show you what is right and good: 24 to revere the LORD….” Good News Translation introduces this last part of the verse with the word “Instead.” But this translation seems to miss the point. Samuel is not saying that his teaching will be a replacement for prayer. Rather, he will continue to pray for them and he will teach them.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

Regarding the connection of this verse to the preceding verse, see the Revised English Bible translation cited in the discussion of the preceding verse.

Fear the LORD: see the comments on verses 14 and 18. Revised English Bible says “revere” (so also La Bible du Semeur).

With all your heart: see the comments on verse 20 above.

Consider: translates the ordinary Hebrew meaning “see.” But here the idea seems to be “keep in mind” (New American Bible). Some may even wish to state this negatively: “do not forget.”

What great things he has done for you: see the similar words in Psa 126.2-3.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

But: the common conjunction clearly marks contrast between fearing the LORD and persisting in doing wrong. Most versions therefore use the word “But” as in Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation.

If you still do wickedly: the Hebrew verb phrase is literally “to do evil you do evil,” using two different forms of the same verb. In this context the construction conveys the idea of perseverance in wrongdoing. It is therefore not adequate to translate simply “if you do evil” (Bible en français courant). Some better models are “if instead you continue to do evil” (New American Bible), “if you persist in wickedness” (Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible), “if you cling to wicked ways” (Knox), and “if you persist in your wrongdoing” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh).

You shall be swept away: an allusion to exile. If this is true, it will be unwise to follow the model of Good News Translation at this point. New American Bible and New Jerusalem Bible likewise fail to preserve the allusion when they translate “you … shall perish.” In some languages it will be necessary to use a verb in the active voice with God as the subject. New Century Version says “God will sweep you and your king away.” Where the image of sweeping is unacceptable, translators may consider saying something like “God will cause you to go away” or “God will banish you.”

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .