20. Then Saul said to Samuel, “But I have obeyed the Lord! I went on the campaign the Lord sent me on. I brought back King Agag of the Amalekites after exterminating the Amalekites.
21. But the army took from the plunder some of the sheep and cattle – the best of what was to be slaughtered – to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal.”
22. Then Samuel said, “Does the Lord take pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrificesas much as he does in obedience? Certainly, obedience is better than sacrifice;paying attention is better than the fat of rams.
23. For rebellion is like the sin of divination,and presumption is like the evil of idolatry.Because you have rejected the word of the Lord,he has rejected you as king.”
24. Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned, for I have disobeyed what the Lord commanded and what you said as well. For I was afraid of the army, and I followed their wishes.
25. Now please forgive my sin! Go back with me so I can worship the Lord.”
26. Samuel said to Saul, “I will not go back with you, for you have rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you from being king over Israel!”
27. When Samuel turned to leave, Saul grabbed the edge of his robe and it tore.
28. Samuel said to him, “The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you this day and has given it to one of your colleagues who is better than you!
29. The Preeminent One of Israel does not go back on his word or change his mind, for he is not a human being who changes his mind.”
30. Saul again replied, “I have sinned. But please honor me before the elders of my people and before Israel. Go back with me so I may worship the Lord your God.”
31. So Samuel followed Saul back, and Saul worshiped the Lord.
32. Then Samuel said, “Bring me King Agag of the Amalekites.” So Agag came to him trembling, thinking to himself, “Surely death is bitter!”
33. Samuel said, “Just as your sword left women childless, so your mother will be the most bereaved among women!” Then Samuel hacked Agag to pieces there in Gilgal before the Lord.
34. Then Samuel went to Ramah, while Saul went up to his home in Gibeah of Saul.
35. Until the day he died Samuel did not see Saul again. Samuel did, however, mourn for Saul, but the Lord regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel.