Lectionary Calendar
Wednesday, June 18th, 2025
the Week of Proper 6 / Ordinary 11
Attention!
StudyLight.org has pledged to help build churches in Uganda. Help us with that pledge and support pastors in the heart of Africa.
Click here to join the effort!

Read the Bible

King James Version

1 Samuel 12:21

And turn ye not aside: for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Idolatry;   Thompson Chain Reference - Profit and Loss;   Sin;   Steadfastness;   Steadfastness-Instability;   Unprofitable, Sin;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Reproof;  

Dictionaries:

- Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Prayer;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Samuel, Books of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Israel;   Kingdom of God;   Samuel, Books of;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Saul;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Government of the Hebrews;  

Encyclopedias:

- The Jewish Encyclopedia - Kish;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Don’t turn away to follow worthless things that can’t profit or rescue you; they are worthless.
Hebrew Names Version
and don't turn aside; for [then would you go] after vain things which can't profit nor deliver, for they are vain.
Lexham English Bible
And do not turn aside after the triviality, which have no value and cannot deliver, for they are triviality.
English Standard Version
And do not turn aside after empty things that cannot profit or deliver, for they are empty.
New Century Version
Idols are of no use, so don't worship them. They can't help you or save you. They are useless!
New English Translation
You should not turn aside after empty things that can't profit and can't deliver, since they are empty.
Amplified Bible
"You must not turn away, for then you would go after futile things which cannot profit or rescue, because they are futile.
New American Standard Bible
"Indeed, you must not turn aside, for then you would go after useless things which cannot benefit or save, because they are useless.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Neither turne yee backe: for that shoulde be after vaine things which cannot profite you, nor deliuer you, for they are but vanitie)
Legacy Standard Bible
And you must not turn aside, for then you would go after meaningless things which cannot profit and cannot deliver, because they are meaningless.
Contemporary English Version
Don't worship idols! They don't have any power, and they can't help you or save you when you're in trouble.
Complete Jewish Bible
Don't turn to the side; because then you would go after useless things that can neither help nor rescue, they are so futile.
Darby Translation
and turn ye not aside; for [it would be] after vain things which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain.
Easy-to-Read Version
Idols are only statues—they can't help you. So don't worship them. Idols can't help you or save you. They are nothing!
George Lamsa Translation
And do not turn aside after vain things which cannot deliver you; that you may not die, for they are vain things.
Good News Translation
Don't go after false gods; they cannot help you or save you, for they are not real.
Literal Translation
And do not turn aside to go after worthless things which do not profit and do not deliver, for they are worthless.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
and go not asyde after vanite, for it profyteth you nothinge, and can not delyuer you, in so moch as it is but a vayne thinge.
American Standard Version
and turn ye not aside; for then would ye go after vain things which cannot profit nor deliver, for they are vain.
Bible in Basic English
And do not go from the right way turning to those false gods in which there is no profit and no salvation, for they are false.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Neither turne ye away, for [then ye go] after vayne thinges, which are not able to profite you, nor deliuer you, for they are but vanitie.)
JPS Old Testament (1917)
and turn ye not aside; for then should ye go after vain things which cannot profit nor deliver, for they are vain.
King James Version (1611)
And turne ye not aside, for then should ye goe after vaine things, which cannot profit, nor deliuer, for they are vaine.)
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And turn not aside after the gods that are nothing, who will do nothing, and will not deliver you, because they are nothing.
English Revised Version
and turn ye not aside: for [then should ye go] after vain things which cannot profit nor deliver, for they are vain.
Berean Standard Bible
Do not turn aside after worthless things that cannot profit you or deliver you, for they are empty.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
and nyle ye bowe aftir veyn thingis, that schulen not profite to you, nether schulen delyuere you; for tho ben veyn thingis.
Young's Literal Translation
and ye do not turn aside after the vain things which do not profit nor deliver, for they [are] vain,
Update Bible Version
and don't turn aside; for [then would you go] after vain things which can't profit nor deliver, for they are vain.
Webster's Bible Translation
And turn ye not aside: for then [would ye go] after vain [things], which cannot profit nor deliver; for they [are] vain.
World English Bible
and don't turn aside; for [then would you go] after vain things which can't profit nor deliver, for they are vain.
New King James Version
And do not turn aside; for then you would go after empty things which cannot profit or deliver, for they are nothing.
New Living Translation
Don't go back to worshiping worthless idols that cannot help or rescue you—they are totally useless!
New Life Bible
Do not turn aside after things that have no worth and cannot save you, for they are nothing.
New Revised Standard
and do not turn aside after useless things that cannot profit or save, for they are useless.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
and turn not aside after vanities, that can neither profit nor deliver, because, vanities, they are.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And turn not aside after vain things, which shall never profit you, nor deliver you, because they are vain.
Revised Standard Version
and do not turn aside after vain things which cannot profit or save, for they are vain.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"You must not turn aside, for then you would go after futile things which can not profit or deliver, because they are futile.

Contextual Overview

16 Now therefore stand and see this great thing, which the Lord will do before your eyes. 17 Is it not wheat harvest to day? I will call unto the Lord , and he shall send thunder and rain; that ye may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which ye have done in the sight of the Lord , in asking you a king. 18 So Samuel called unto the Lord ; and the Lord sent thunder and rain that day: and all the people greatly feared the Lord and Samuel. 19 And all the people said unto Samuel, Pray for thy servants unto the Lord thy God, that we die not: for we have added unto all our sins this evil, to ask us a king. 20 And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not: ye have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the Lord , but serve the Lord with all your heart; 21 And turn ye not aside: for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain. 22 For the Lord will not forsake his people for his great name's sake: because it hath pleased the Lord to make you his people. 23 Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way: 24 Only fear the Lord , and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you. 25 But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both ye and your king.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

vain things: Deuteronomy 32:21, Jeremiah 2:5, Jeremiah 2:13, Jeremiah 10:8, Jeremiah 10:15, Jeremiah 14:22, Jeremiah 16:19, Jonah 2:8, Habakkuk 2:18, 1 Corinthians 8:4

cannot profit: Psalms 115:4-8, Isaiah 41:23, Isaiah 41:24, Isaiah 44:9, Isaiah 44:10, Isaiah 45:20, Isaiah 46:7, Jeremiah 10:15

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 16:13 - vanities 1 Kings 22:43 - he turned 2 Kings 17:15 - vanity Psalms 4:2 - love Psalms 101:3 - them Ecclesiastes 5:16 - what Song of Solomon 1:7 - for Jeremiah 2:8 - do not Mark 7:7 - in vain Acts 14:15 - from 1 Corinthians 14:6 - what shall I 2 Timothy 2:14 - to no

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And turn ye not aside,.... From his worship: for then; if they turned aside from that:

should ye go after vain things; idols, which are vanity, and less than vanity:

which cannot profit nor deliver; neither bestow good things on their votaries, nor deliver them from evils, or from the hands of their enemies

for they are vain; empty, useless, and unprofitable; an idol is nothing in the world, 1 Corinthians 8:4.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 1 Samuel 12:21. After vain things — That is, idols; which he calls here התהו hattohu, the same expression found Genesis 1:2. The earth was תהו tohu; it was waste, empty, and formless: so idols; they are confusion, and things of naught, for an idol is nothing in the world-it is not the representative of any intelligent being.


 
adsfree-icon
Ads FreeProfile