1 Samuel 15:20–28

²⁰“But I did obey^w the Lord,” Saul said. “I went on the mission the Lord assigned me. I completely destroyed the Amalekites and brought back Agag their king. ²¹The soldiers took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of what was devoted to God, in order to sacrifice them to the Lord your God at Gilgal.”

²²But Samuel replied:

“Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices

as much as in obeying the Lord?

To obey is better than sacrifice,^x

and to heed is better than the fat of rams.

²³For rebellion is like the sin of divination,^y

and arrogance like the evil of idolatry.

Because you have rejected^z the word of the Lord,

he has rejected you as king.”

²⁴Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned.^a I violated^b the Lord’s command and your instructions. I was afraid^c of the men and so I gave in to them. ²⁵Now I beg you, forgive^d my sin and come back with me, so that I may worship the Lord.”

²⁶But Samuel said to him, “I will not go back with you. You have rejected^e the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you as king over Israel!”

²⁷As Samuel turned to leave, Saul caught hold of the hem of his robe,^f and it tore.^{g 28}Samuel said to him, “The Lord has torn^h the kingdomⁱ of Israel from you today and has given it to one of your neighbors—to one better than you.^j