1 Samuel 15:14-35

14But Samuel said, “1What then is this 2bleating of the sheep in my ears, and the 3lowing of the oxen which I hear?” 15Saul said, “They have brought them from the Amalekites, for 4the people spared the best of the sheep and oxen, to sacrifice to the Lord your God; but the rest we have utterly destroyed.” 16Then Samuel said to Saul, “Wait, and let me tell you what the Lord said to me last night.” And he said to him, “Speak!”

17Samuel said, “Is it not true, 5though you were little in your own eyes, you were made the head of the tribes of Israel? And the Lord anointed you king over Israel, 18and the Lord sent you on a 6mission, and said, ‘7Go and utterly destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are exterminated.’ 19Why then did you not obey the voice of the Lord, 8but rushed upon the spoil and did what was evil in the sight of the Lord?”

20Then Saul said to Samuel, “9I did obey the voice of the Lord, and went on the 10mission on which the Lord sent me, and have brought back Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. 21But 11the people took some of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the choicest of the things devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to the Lord your God at Gilgal.” 22Samuel said, “12Has the Lord as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices As in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, 13to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams.23For rebellion is as the sin of 14divination, And insubordination is as 15iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, 16He has also rejected you from being king.”

24Then Saul said to Samuel, “17I have sinned; 18I have indeed transgressed the 19command of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and listened to their voice. 25Now therefore, 20please pardon my sin and return with me, that I may worship the Lord.” 26But Samuel said to Saul, “I will not return with you; for 21you have rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you from being king over Israel.” 27As Samuel turned to go, 22Saul seized the edge of his robe, and it tore. 28So Samuel said to him, “23The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to your neighbor, who is better than you. 29Also the 2425Glory of Israel 26will not lie or change His mind; for He is not a man that He should change His mind.” 30Then he said, “I have sinned; 27but please honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel, and go back with me, 28that I may worship the Lord your God.” 31So Samuel went back following Saul, and Saul worshiped the Lord.

32Then Samuel said, “Bring me Agag, the king of the Amalekites.” And Agag came to him 29cheerfully. And Agag said, “Surely the bitterness of death is past.” 33But Samuel said, “30As 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.

34Then Samuel went to 31Ramah, but Saul went up to his house at 32Gibeah of Saul. 3533Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death; for Samuel 34grieved over Saul. And the Lord regretted that He had made Saul king over Israel.