These curses ¹  will be a perpetual sign and wonder with reference to you and your descendants. ² 

So Samuel spoke all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking him for a king.

Those guilty of sin ¹  must be rebuked ²  before all, ³  as a warning to the rest. ⁴ 

The Lord said to Moses, “Bring Aaron’s staff back before the testimony to be preserved for a sign to the rebels, so that you may bring their murmurings to an end ¹  before me, that they will not die.” ² 

“Then there will arise in his place a despicable person ¹  to whom the royal honor has not been rightfully conferred. He will come on the scene in a time of prosperity and will seize the kingdom through deceit.

But the people refused to heed Samuel’s warning. ¹  Instead they said, “No! There will be a king over us!

A poor but wise youth is better than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to receive advice.

It is best to take hold of one warning ¹  without letting go of the other warning; ²  for the one who fears God will follow ³  both warnings. ⁴ 

From earliest times, the prophets who preceded you and me invariably ¹  prophesied war, disaster, ²  and plagues against many countries and great kingdoms.

Therefore be alert, ¹  remembering that night and day for three years I did not stop warning ²  each one of you with tears.

These things happened to them as examples and were written for our instruction, on whom the ends of the ages have come.

He who removes mountains suddenly, ¹  who overturns them in his anger; ² 

Then he gives a revelation ¹  to people, and terrifies them with warnings, ² 

And he reveals ¹  this ²  for correction, and says that they must turn ³  from evil.

So now, you kings, do what is wise; ¹  you rulers of the earth, submit to correction! ² 

in order to shoot down the innocent ¹  in secluded places. They shoot at him suddenly and are unafraid of retaliation. ² 

Shout out, daughter of Gallim! Pay attention, Laishah! Answer her, Anathoth! ¹ 

“How long must I see the enemy’s battle flags and hear the military signals of their bugles?” ¹ 

“When a righteous person turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and I set an obstacle ¹  before him, he will die. If you have not warned him, he will die for his sin. The righteous deeds he performed will not be considered, but I will hold you accountable for his death.

In a time of prosperity for the most productive areas of the province he will come and accomplish what neither his fathers nor their fathers accomplished. He will distribute loot, spoils, and property to his followers, and he will devise plans against fortified cities, but not for long. ¹