23. For rebellion is the sin of witchcraft, and to break the word of the Lord is iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he has also rejected thee from being king.
24. Then Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned; for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and thy words because I feared the people and consented unto their voice.
25. Now, therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin and turn again with me that I may worship the Lord.
26. And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee, for thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected thee from being king over Israel.
27. And as Samuel turned about to go away, he laid hold upon the skirt of his mantle, and it rent.
28. And Samuel said unto him, The Lord has rent the kingdom of Israel from thee today and has given it to a neighbour of thine that is better than thou.
29. And also the Overcomer of Israel will not lie nor repent concerning this, for he is not a man, that he should repent.
30. Then he said, I have sinned; yet honour me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people and before Israel and turn again with me that I may worship the Lord thy God.
31. So Samuel turned again after Saul, and Saul worshipped the Lord.
32. Then Samuel said, Bring me Agag, the king of Amalek. And Agag came unto him delicately. And Agag said, Surely the bitterness of death is near.
33. And Samuel said, As thy sword has made women childless, so shall thy mother be childless among women. Then Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the Lord in Gilgal.
34. Then Samuel went to Ramah, and Saul went up to his house in Gibeah of Saul.
35. And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death; nevertheless, Samuel mourned for Saul because the Lord had repented that he had made Saul king over Israel.