Lectionary Calendar
Friday, April 10th, 2026
Friday in Easter Week
Friday in Easter Week
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Read the Bible
Wycliffe Bible
1 Samuel 12:21
and nyle ye bowe aftir veyn thingis, that schulen not profite to you, nether schulen delyuere you; for tho ben veyn thingis.
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Christian Standard Bible®
Don’t turn away to follow worthless things that can’t profit or rescue you; they are worthless.
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.
and don't turn aside; for [then would you go] after vain things which can't profit nor deliver, for they are vain.
King James Version
And turn ye not aside: for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain.
And turn ye not aside: for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot 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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
"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.
"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)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.)
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.
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.)
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.
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.
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.
Do not turn aside after worthless things that cannot profit you or deliver you, for they are empty.
Young's Literal Translation
and ye do not turn aside after the vain things which do not profit nor deliver, for they [are] vain,
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
"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 But also now stonde ye, and se this gret thing which the Lord schal make in youre siyt. 17 Whether heruest of whete is not `to dai? I schal inwardli clepe the Lord, and he schal yyue voices, `that is, thundris, and reynes; and ye schulen wite, and schulen se, for ye axynge a kyng on you han do greuouse yuel to you in the siyt of the Lord. 18 And Samuel criede to the Lord, and the Lord yaf voices and reynes in that dai. 19 And al the puple dredde greetli the Lord and Samuel; and al the puple seide to Samuel, Preye thou for thi seruauntis to thi Lord God, that we die not; for we addiden yuel to alle oure synnes, that we axiden a kyng to vs. 20 Forsothe Samuel seide to the puple, `Nyle ye drede; ye han do al this yuel; netheles `nyle ye go awey fro the bak of the Lord, but serue ye the Lord in al youre herte; 21 and nyle ye bowe aftir veyn thingis, that schulen not profite to you, nether schulen delyuere you; for tho ben veyn thingis. 22 And the Lord schal not forsake his puple for his grete name; for the Lord swoor to make you a puple to hym silf. 23 Forsothe this synne be fer fro me in the Lord, that Y ceesse to preye for you; and Y schal teche you a riytful weie and good. 24 Therfor drede ye the Lord, and `serue ye hym in treuthe, and of al youre herte; for ye sien tho grete thingis, whiche he `dide in you; 25 that if ye contynuen in malice, bothe ye and youre kyng schulen perische to gidere.
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.
