1 Samuel 15:16-24

LEB(i) 16 Then Samuel said to Saul, "Stop and let me tell you what Yahweh said to me last night." So he said to him, "Speak." 17 Samuel said, "Even though you are small in your own eyes, are you not the head of the tribes of Israel? Yahweh has anointed you as king over Israel. 18 When Yahweh sent you on your way, he said to you: 'Go! You must utterly destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and you must fight against them until you* have destroyed them.' 19 Why did you not listen to the voice of Yahweh and fall with shouting on the plunder? You have done evil in the sight of Yahweh!" 20 Then Saul said to Samuel, "I have listened to the voice of Yahweh, and I have gone on the way that Yahweh sent me! I brought Agag the king of Amalek, and the Amalekites I have utterly destroyed. 21 The troops took from the plunder, sheep and cattle, the best of the things devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to Yahweh your God at Gilgal." 22 Then Samuel said,
"Is there as much delight for Yahweh in burnt offerings and sacrifices as there is in obeying* Yahweh? Look! To obey* is better than sacrifice; to give heed than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is like the sin of divination; arrogance is like iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of Yahweh, he has rejected you from being king!" 24 Then Saul said to Samuel, "I have sinned because I have transgressed the commandment of Yahweh* and your words, for I feared the troops and I listened to their voice.