21. The soldiers took the best sheep and cattle to sacrifice to the Lord your God at Gilgal.”
22. But Samuel answered,“What pleases the Lord more:burnt offerings and sacrificesor obedience to his voice?It is better to obey than to sacrifice.It is better to listen to God than to offer the fat of sheep.
23. Disobedience is as bad as the sin of sorcery.Pride is as bad as the sin of worshiping idols.You have rejected the Lord’s command.Now he rejects you as king.”
24. Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned. I didn’t obey the Lord’s commands and your words. I was afraid of the people, and I did what they said.
25. Now, I beg you, forgive my sin. Come back with me so I may worship the Lord.”
26. But Samuel said to Saul, “I won’t go back with you. You rejected the Lord’s command, and now he rejects you as king of Israel.”
27. As Samuel turned to leave, Saul caught his robe, and it tore.
28. Samuel said to him, “The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to one of your neighbors who is better than you.
29. The Lord is the Eternal One of Israel. He does not lie or change his mind. He is not a human being, so he does not change his mind.
30. Saul answered, “I have sinned. But please honor me in front of the elders of my people and in front of the Israelites. Come back with me so that I can worship the Lord your God.”
31. So Samuel went back with Saul, and Saul worshiped the Lord.
32. Then Samuel said, “Bring me King Agag of the Amalekites.”Agag came to Samuel in chains, but Agag thought, “Surely the threat of death has passed.”
33. Samuel said to him, “Your sword made other mothers lose their children. Now your mother will have no children.” And Samuel cut Agag to pieces before the Lord at Gilgal.
34. Then Samuel left and went to Ramah, but Saul went up to his home in Gibeah.
35. And Samuel never saw Saul again the rest of his life, but he was sad for Saul. And the Lord was very sorry he had made Saul king of Israel.