1 Samuel 15:20-35

New International Version

²⁰“But I did obey^(A) the Lord,” Saul said. “I went on the mission the Lord assigned me. I completely destroyed the Amalekites and brought back Agag their king. ²¹The soldiers took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of what was devoted to God, in order to sacrifice them to the Lord your God at Gilgal.”

²²But Samuel replied:

“Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
    as much as in obeying the Lord?
To obey is better than sacrifice,^(B)
    and to heed is better than the fat of rams.
²³For rebellion is like the sin of divination,^(C)
    and arrogance like the evil of idolatry.
Because you have rejected^(D) the word of the Lord,
    he has rejected you as king.”

²⁴Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned.^(E) I violated^(F) the Lord’s command and your instructions. I was afraid^(G) of the men and so I gave in to them. ²⁵Now I beg you, forgive^(H) my sin and come back with me, so that I may worship the Lord.”

²⁶But Samuel said to him, “I will not go back with you. You have rejected^(I) the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you as king over Israel!”

²⁷As Samuel turned to leave, Saul caught hold of the hem of his robe,^(J) and it tore.^(K) ²⁸Samuel said to him, “The Lord has torn^(L) the kingdom^(M) of Israel from you today and has given it to one of your neighbors—to one better than you.^(N) ²⁹He who is the Glory of Israel does not lie^(O) or change^(P) his mind; for he is not a human being, that he should change his mind.”

³⁰Saul replied, “I have sinned.^(Q) But please honor^(R) me before the elders of my people and before Israel; come back with me, so that I may worship the Lord your God.” ³¹So Samuel went back with Saul, and Saul worshiped the Lord.

³²Then Samuel said, “Bring me Agag king of the Amalekites.”

Agag came to him in chains.^[a] And he thought, “Surely the bitterness of death is past.”

³³But Samuel said,

“As your sword has made women childless,
so will your mother be childless among women.”^(S)

And Samuel put Agag to death before the Lord at Gilgal.

³⁴Then Samuel left for Ramah,^(T) but Saul went up to his home in Gibeah^(U) of Saul. ³⁵Until the day Samuel^(V) died, he did not go to see Saul again, though Samuel mourned^(W) for him. And the Lord regretted^(X) that he had made Saul king over Israel.