1 Samuel 15:22-30

English Standard Version

²²And Samuel said,

^(A)“Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,
    as in obeying the voice of the Lord?
Behold, ^(B)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 ^(C)idolatry.
Because ^(D)you have rejected the word of the Lord,
    ^(E)he has also rejected you from being king.”

²⁴Saul said to Samuel, ^(F)“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 ^(G)return with me that I may bow before the Lord.” ²⁶And Samuel said to Saul, “I will not return with you. ^(H)For you have rejected the word of the Lord, ^(I)and the Lord has rejected you from being king over Israel.” ²⁷^(J)As Samuel turned to go away, Saul seized the skirt of his robe, and it tore. ²⁸And Samuel said to him, ^(K)“The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you this day and has given it to a neighbor of yours, who is better than you. ²⁹And also the Glory of Israel ^(L)will not lie or have regret, for he is not a man, that he should have regret.” ³⁰Then he said, “I have sinned; yet ^(M)honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel, ^(N)and return with me, that I may bow before the Lord your God.”