1 Samuel 15:21-25

English Standard Version

²¹^(A)But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the best of the things devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal.” ²²And Samuel said,

^(B)“Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,
    as in obeying the voice of the Lord?
Behold, ^(C)to obey is better than sacrifice,
    and to listen than the fat of rams.
²³For rebellion is as the sin of divination,
    and presumption is as iniquity and ^(D)idolatry.
Because ^(E)you have rejected the word of the Lord,
    ^(F)he has also rejected you from being king.”

²⁴Saul said to Samuel, ^(G)“I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice. ²⁵Now therefore, please pardon my sin and ^(H)return with me that I may bow before the Lord.”

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