1 Samuel 12:19-23

Then all the people said to Samuel, “Pray to the Lord your God for your servants, so that we do not die; for we have added to all our sins this evil, by asking for ourselves a king.”

Samuel said to the people, “Do not fear. You have committed all this evil, yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart.

Indeed, you must not turn aside, for then you would go after useless things which cannot benefit or save, because they are useless.

For the Lord will not abandon His people on account of His great name, because the Lord has been pleased to make you a people for Himself.

Furthermore, as for me, far be it from me that I would sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you; but I will instruct you in the good and right way.