21. Yes, the troops took sheep and cattle from the plunder—the very best items placed under the ban—but in order to sacrifice them to the Lord your God at Gilgal."
22. Then Samuel replied,"Does the Lord want entirely burned offerings and sacrificesas much as obedience to the Lord?Listen to this: obeying is better than sacrificing,paying attention is better than fat from rams,
23. because rebellion is as bad as the sin of divination;arrogance is like the evil of idolatry.Because you have rejected what the Lord said,he has rejected you as king."
24. Saul said to Samuel, "I have sinned because I disobeyed the Lord’s command and your instructions. I was afraid of the troops and obeyed them.
25. But now please forgive my sin! Come back with me, so I can worship the Lord."
26. But Samuel said to Saul, "I can’t return with you because you have rejected what the Lord said, and the Lord has rejected you from being king over Israel."
27. Samuel turned to leave, but Saul grabbed at the edge of his robe, and it ripped.
28. Then Samuel told him, "The Lord has ripped the kingdom of Israel from you today. He will give it to a friend of yours, someone who is more worthy than you.
29. What’s more, the enduring one of Israel doesn’t take back what he says and doesn’t change his mind. He is not a human being who would change his mind."
30. "I have sinned," Saul said, "but please honor me in front of my people’s elders and before Israel, and come back with me so I can worship the Lord your God."
31. So Samuel went back with Saul, and Saul worshipped the Lord.
32. "Bring me Agag the Amalekite king," Samuel said.Agag came to him in chains, asking, "Would death have been as bitter as this is?"
33. Samuel said, "Just as your sword left women without their children, now your mother will be childless among women." Then Samuel cut Agag to pieces in the Lord’s presence at Gilgal.
34. Then Samuel went to Ramah, but Saul went up to his home in Gibeah.
35. Samuel never saw Saul again before he died, but he grieved over Saul. However, the Lord regretted making Saul king over Israel.