22 So Samuel said:

x“Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,

As in obeying the voice of the Lord?

Behold, yto obey is better than sacrifice,

And to heed than the fat of rams.

23 For rebellion is as the sin of 4witchcraft,

And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.

Because you have rejected the word of the Lord,

zHe also has rejected you from being king.”

24 aThen Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and your words, because I bfeared the people and obeyed their voice. 25 Now therefore, please 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, cfor you have rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you from being king over Israel.”

27 And as Samuel turned around to go away, dSaul seized the edge of his robe, and it tore. 28 So Samuel said to him, e“The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today, and has given it to a neighbor of yours, who is better than you.