22 Samuel said,

“aHas the Lord as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices

As in obeying the voice of the Lord?

Behold, bto obey is better than sacrifice,

And to heed than the fat of rams.

23 “For rebellion is as the sin of adivination,

And insubordination is as biniquity and idolatry.

Because you have rejected the word of the Lord,

cHe has also rejected you from being king.”

24 Then Saul said to Samuel, “aI have sinned; bI have indeed transgressed the 1command of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and listened to their voice.

25 “Now therefore, aplease pardon my sin and return with me, that I may worship the Lord.”

26 But Samuel said to Saul, “I will not return with you; for ayou have rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you from being king over Israel.”

27 As Samuel turned to go, aSaul seized the edge of his robe, and it tore.

28 So Samuel said to him, “aThe Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to your neighbor, who is better than you.

29 “Also the 1aGlory of Israel bwill not lie or change His mind; for He is not a man that He should change His mind.”

30 Then he said, “I have sinned; abut please honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel, and go back with me, bthat I may worship the Lord your God.”

31 So Samuel went back following Saul, and Saul worshiped the Lord.

32 Then Samuel said, “Bring me Agag, the king of the Amalekites.” And Agag came to him 1cheerfully. And Agag said, “Surely the bitterness of death is past.”

33 But Samuel said, “aAs your sword has made women childless, so shall your mother be childless among women.” And Samuel hewed Agag to pieces before the Lord at Gilgal.