1 Samuel 12:21

In 11 translations

BSB

Do not turn aside after worthless things that cannot profit you or deliver you, for they are empty.

KJV

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

WEB

Don’t turn away to go after vain things which can’t profit or deliver, for they are vain.

ASV

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

LSV

and you do not turn aside after the vain things which do not profit nor deliver, for they [are] vain,

YLT

and ye do not turn aside after the vain things which do not profit nor deliver, for they [are] vain,

DBY

and turn ye not aside; for [it would be] after vain things which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain.

DRC

And turn not aside after vain things which shall never profit you, nor deliver you, because they are vain.

GNV

Neither turne yee backe: for that shoulde be after vaine things which cannot profite you, nor deliuer you, for they are but vanitie)

JPS

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

LXXE

And turn not aside after the gods that are nothing, who will do nothing, and will not deliver you, because they are nothing.

Word by word Hebrew · tap a word

Words in brackets are English the glossers added; the Hebrew has no word for them, and they can carry a choice of tense or meaning.

Original-language editions

WLC

וְלֹ֖א תָּס֑וּרוּ כִּ֣י ׀ אַחֲרֵ֣י הַתֹּ֗הוּ אֲשֶׁ֧ר לֹֽא־יוֹעִ֛ילוּ וְלֹ֥א יַצִּ֖ילוּ כִּי־תֹ֥הוּ הֵֽמָּה׃

LXX-Br

Καὶ μὴ παραβῆτε ὀπίσω τῶν μηθὲν ὄντων, οἳ οὐ περανοῦσιν οὐθὲν, καὶ οἳ οὐκ ἐξελοῦνται, ὅτι οὐθέν εἰσιν.

Who and where

People, places and events the Theographic dataset links to this verse.

In the reference works topics that cite this verse

From public-domain Bible dictionaries and topical indexes (1884–1915).

Cross-references most cited first

• Habakkuk 2:18What use is an idol, that a craftsman should carve it— or an image, a teacher of lies? For its maker trusts in his own creation; he makes idols that cannot speak.
• Jeremiah 10:15They are worthless, a work to be mocked. In the time of their punishment they will perish.
• Jeremiah 16:19O LORD, my strength and my fortress, my refuge in the day of distress, the nations will come to You from the ends of the earth, and they will say, “Our fathers inherited nothing but lies, worthless idols of no benefit…
• Jeremiah 14:22Can the worthless idols of the nations bring rain? Do the skies alone send showers? Is this not by You, O LORD our God? So we put our hope in You, for You have done all these things.
• Deuteronomy 11:16But be careful that you are not enticed to turn aside to worship and bow down to other gods,
• Isaiah 45:20Come, gather together, and draw near, you fugitives from the nations. Ignorant are those who carry idols of wood and pray to a god that cannot save.
• Isaiah 46:7They lift it to their shoulder and carry it along; they set it in its place, and there it stands, not budging from that spot. They cry out to it, but it does not answer; it saves no one from his troubles.
• Jeremiah 2:13“For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living water, and they have dug their own cisterns— broken cisterns that cannot hold water.
• Isaiah 44:9–10All makers of idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless. Their witnesses fail to see or comprehend, so they are put to shame. Who fashions a god or casts an idol which profits him nothing?
• 1 Corinthians 8:4So about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world, and that there is no God but one.
• Jonah 2:8Those who cling to worthless idols forsake His loving devotion.
• Isaiah 41:23–24Tell us the things that are to come, so that we may know that you are gods. Yes, do something good or evil, that we may look on together in dismay. Behold, you are nothing and your work is of no value. Anyone who…
• Jeremiah 2:5This is what the LORD says: “What fault did your fathers find in Me that they strayed so far from Me, and followed worthless idols, and became worthless themselves?
• Deuteronomy 32:21They have provoked My jealousy by that which is not God; they have enraged Me with their worthless idols. So I will make them jealous by those who are not a people; I will make them angry by a nation without…
• Psalms 115:4–8Their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men. They have mouths, but cannot speak; they have eyes, but cannot see; they have ears, but cannot hear; they have noses, but cannot smell; they have hands, but…
• Jeremiah 10:8But they are altogether senseless and foolish, instructed by worthless idols made of wood!

From the OpenBible.info cross-reference set (votes from readers; not every link is a quotation or allusion).