1 Samuel 15:16-24

16Then Samuel said to Saul, “Stop, and let me inform you of what the Lord said to me last night.” And he said to him, “Speak!”

17So Samuel said, “1Is it not true, 2though you were 3insignificant in your own eyes, that you became the head of the tribes of Israel? For the Lord anointed you as king over Israel. 18And the Lord sent you on a 4mission, and said, ‘5Go and completely destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are eliminated.’ 19Why then did you not obey the voice of the Lord? 6Instead, you loudly rushed upon the spoils and did what was evil in the sight of the Lord!”

20Then Saul said to Samuel, “7I did obey the voice of the Lord, for I went on the 8mission on which the Lord sent me; and I have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have completely destroyed the Amalekites. 21But 9the people took some of the spoils, sheep and oxen, the choicest of the things designated for destruction, to sacrifice to the Lord your God at Gilgal.” 22Samuel said, “10Does the Lord have as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices As in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, 11to obey is better than a sacrifice, And to pay attention is better than the fat of rams.23For rebellion is as reprehensible as the sin of 12divination, And insubordination is as reprehensible as 13false religion and idolatry. Since you have rejected the word of the Lord, 14He has also rejected you from being king.”

24Then Saul said to Samuel, “15I have sinned, for 16I have violated the 17command of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and listened to their voice.