17. And Samuel saith, `Art not thou, if thou [art] little in thine own eyes, head of the tribes of Israel? and Jehovah doth anoint thee for king over Israel,
18. and Jehovah sendeth thee in the way, and saith, Go, and thou hast devoted the sinners, the Amalekite, and fought against them till they are consumed;
19. and why hast thou not hearkened to the voice of Jehovah--and dost fly unto the spoil, and dost do the evil thing in the eyes of Jehovah?'
20. And Saul saith unto Samuel, `Because--I have hearkened to the voice of Jehovah, and I go in the way which Jehovah hath sent me, and bring in Agag king of Amalek, and Amalek I have devoted;
21. and the people taketh of the spoil of the flock and herd, the first part of the devoted thing, for sacrifice to Jehovah thy God in Gilgal.'
22. And Samuel saith, `Hath Jehovah had delight in burnt-offerings and sacrifices as [in] hearkening to the voice of Jehovah? lo, hearkening than sacrifice is better; to give attention than fat of rams;
23. for a sin of divination [is] rebellion, and iniquity and teraphim [is] stubbornness; because thou hast rejected the word of Jehovah, He also doth reject thee from [being] king.'
24. And Saul saith unto Samuel, `I have sinned, for I passed over the command of Jehovah, and thy words; because I have feared the people, I also hearken to their voice;
25. and now, bear, I pray thee, with my sin, and turn back with me, and I bow myself to Jehovah.'
26. And Samuel saith unto Saul, `I do not turn back with thee; for thou hast rejected the word of Jehovah, and Jehovah doth reject thee from being king over Israel.'
27. And Samuel turneth round to go, and he layeth hold on the skirt of his upper robe-- and it is rent!
28. And Samuel saith unto him, `Jehovah hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee today, and given it to thy neighbour who is better than thou;
29. and also, the Pre-eminence of Israel doth not lie nor repent, for He [is] not a man to be penitent.'
30. And he saith, `I have sinned; now, honour me, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn back with me; and I have bowed myself to Jehovah thy God.'
31. And Samuel turneth back after Saul, and Saul boweth himself to Jehovah;
32. and Samuel saith, `Bring ye nigh unto me Agag king of Amalek,' and Agag cometh unto him daintily, and Agag saith, `Surely the bitterness of death hath turned aside.'
33. And Samuel saith, `As thy sword bereaved women--so is thy mother bereaved above women;' and Samuel heweth Agag in pieces before Jehovah in Gilgal.
34. And Samuel goeth to Ramath, and Saul hath gone unto his house--to Gibeah of Saul.