1 Samuel 15:22–33

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. 29 And also the Strength of Israel fwill not lie nor relent. For He is not a man, that He should relent.”

30 Then he said, “I have sinned; yet ghonor me now, please, before the elders of my people and before Israel, and return with me, that I may worship the Lord your God.” 31 So Samuel turned back after Saul, and Saul worshiped the Lord.

32 Then Samuel said, “Bring Agag king of the Amalekites here to me.” So Agag came to him cautiously.

And Agag said, “Surely the bitterness of death is past.”

33 But Samuel said, h“As your sword has made women childless, so shall your mother be childless among women.” And Samuel hacked Agag in pieces before the Lord in Gilgal.