17
Samuel said, "There was a time when you didn't think you were important. But you became the leader of the tribes of Israel. The LORD anointed you to be king over Israel.
18
He sent you to do something for him. He said, 'Go and set the Amalekites apart. Set those sinful people apart to me in a special way to be destroyed. Fight against them until you have wiped them out.'
19
"Why didn't you obey the Lord? Why did you grab what you had taken from your enemies? Why did you do what is evil in the sight of the Lord?"
20
"But I did obey the Lord," Saul said. "I went to do what he sent me to do. I totally destroyed the Amalekites. I brought back Agag, their king.
21
"The soldiers took sheep and cattle from what had been taken from our enemies. They took the best of what had been set apart to God. They wanted to sacrifice them to the LORD your God at Gilgal."
22
But Samuel replied, "What pleases the LORD more? Burnt offerings and sacrifices, or obeying him? It is better to obey than to offer a sacrifice. It is better to do what he says than to offer the fat of rams.
23
Refusing to obey him is as sinful as using evil magic. Being proud is as evil as worshiping statues of gods. You have refused to do what the LORD told you to do. So he has refused to have you as king."
24
Then Saul said to Samuel, "I have sinned. I've broken the LORD's command. I haven't done what you directed me to do. I was afraid of the people. So I did what they said I should do.
25
Now I beg you, forgive my sin. Come back into town with me so I can worship the Lord."
26
But Samuel said to him, "I won't go back with you. You have refused to do what the LORD told you to do. So he has refused to have you as king over Israel!"
27
Samuel turned to leave. But Saul grabbed hold of the hem of his robe, and it tore.