| Holman Christian Standard Bible | Berean Study Bible |
| 1Samuel told Saul, "The LORD sent me to anoint you as king over His people Israel. Now, listen to the words of the LORD. | 1Then Samuel said to Saul, “The LORD sent me to anoint you king over His people Israel. Now therefore, listen to the words of the LORD. |
| 2This is what the LORD of Hosts says: 'I witnessed what the Amalekites did to the Israelites when they opposed them along the way as they were coming out of Egypt. | 2This is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘I witnessed what the Amalekites did to the Israelites when they ambushed them on their way up from Egypt. |
| 3Now go and attack the Amalekites and completely destroy everything they have. Do not spare them. Kill men and women, children and infants, oxen and sheep, camels and donkeys.'" | 3Now go and attack the Amalekites and devote to destruction all that belongs to them. Do not spare them, but put to death men and women, children and infants, oxen and sheep, camels and donkeys.’ ” |
| 4Then Saul summoned the troops and counted them at Telaim: 200,000 foot soldiers and 10,000 men from Judah. | 4So Saul summoned the troops and numbered them at Telaim—200,000 foot soldiers and 10,000 men of Judah. |
| 5Saul came to the city of Amalek and set up an ambush in the wadi. | 5Saul came to the city of Amalek and lay in wait in the valley. |
| 6He warned the Kenites, "Since you showed kindness to all the Israelites when they came out of Egypt, go on and leave! Get away from the Amalekites, or I'll sweep you away with them." So the Kenites withdrew from the Amalekites. | 6And he warned the Kenites, “Since you showed kindness to all the Israelites when they came up out of Egypt, go on and get away from the Amalekites. Otherwise I will sweep you away with them.” So the Kenites moved away from the Amalekites. |
| 7Then Saul struck down the Amalekites from Havilah all the way to Shur, which is next to Egypt. | 7Then Saul struck down the Amalekites all the way from Havilah to Shur, which is east of Egypt. |
| 8He captured Agag king of Amalek alive, but he completely destroyed all the rest of the people with the sword. | 8He captured Agag king of Amalek alive, but devoted all the others to destruction with the sword. |
| 9Saul and the troops spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, cattle, and choice animals, as well as the young rams and the best of everything else. They were not willing to destroy them, but they did destroy all the worthless and unwanted things. | 9Saul and his troops spared Agag, along with the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambs, and the best of everything else. They were unwilling to destroy them, but they devoted to destruction all that was despised and worthless. |
| 10Then the word of the LORD came to Samuel, | 10Then the word of the LORD came to Samuel, saying, |
| 11"I regret that I made Saul king, for he has turned away from following Me and has not carried out My instructions." So Samuel became angry and cried out to the LORD all night. | 11“I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned away from following Me and has not carried out My instructions.” And Samuel was distressed and cried out to the LORD all that night. |
| 12Early in the morning Samuel got up to confront Saul, but it was reported to Samuel, "Saul went to Carmel where he set up a monument for himself. Then he turned around and went down to Gilgal." | 12Early in the morning Samuel got up to confront Saul, but he was told, “Saul has gone to Carmel, and behold, he has set up a monument for himself and has turned and gone down to Gilgal.” |
| 13When Samuel came to him, Saul said, "May the LORD bless you. I have carried out the LORD's instructions." | 13When Samuel reached him, Saul said to him, “May the LORD bless you. I have carried out the LORD’s instructions.” |
| 14Samuel replied, "Then what is this sound of sheep and cattle I hear?" | 14But Samuel replied, “Then what is this bleating of sheep and lowing of cattle that I hear?” |
| 15Saul answered, "The troops brought them from the Amalekites and spared the best sheep and cattle in order to offer a sacrifice to the LORD your God, but the rest we destroyed." | 15Saul answered, “The troops brought them from the Amalekites; they spared the best sheep and cattle to sacrifice to the LORD your God, but the rest we devoted to destruction.” |
| 16"Stop!" exclaimed Samuel. "Let me tell you what the LORD said to me last night." "Tell me," he replied. | 16“Stop!” exclaimed Samuel. “Let me tell you what the LORD said to me last night.” “Tell me,” Saul replied. |
| 17Samuel continued, "Although you once considered yourself unimportant, have you not become the leader of the tribes of Israel? The LORD anointed you king over Israel | 17And Samuel said, “Although you were once small in your own eyes, have you not become the head of the tribes of Israel? The LORD anointed you king over Israel |
| 18and then sent you on a mission and said: 'Go and completely destroy the sinful Amalekites. Fight against them until you have annihilated them.' | 18and sent you on a mission, saying, ‘Go and devote to destruction the sinful Amalekites. Fight against them until you have wiped them out.’ |
| 19So why didn't you obey the LORD? Why did you rush on the plunder and do what was evil in the LORD's sight?" | 19So why did you not obey the LORD? Why did you rush upon the plunder and do evil in the sight of the LORD?” |
| 20"But I did obey the LORD!" Saul answered. "I went on the mission the LORD gave me: I brought back Agag, king of Amalek, and I completely destroyed the Amalekites. | 20“But I did obey the LORD,” Saul replied. “I went on the mission that the LORD gave me. I brought back Agag king of Amalek and devoted the Amalekites to destruction. |
| 21The troops took sheep and cattle from the plunder--the best of what was set apart for destruction--to sacrifice to the LORD your God at Gilgal." | 21The troops took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of the things devoted to destruction, in order to sacrifice them to the LORD your God at Gilgal.” |
| 22Then Samuel said: Does the LORD take pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the LORD? Look: to obey is better than sacrifice, to pay attention is better than the fat of rams. | 22But Samuel declared: “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obedience to His voice? Behold, obedience is better than sacrifice, and attentiveness is better than the fat of rams. |
| 23For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and defiance is like wickedness and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has rejected you as king. | 23For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance is like the wickedness of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has rejected you as king.” |
| 24Saul answered Samuel, "I have sinned. I have transgressed the LORD's command and your words. Because I was afraid of the people, I obeyed them. | 24Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned; I have transgressed the LORD’s commandment and your instructions, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice. |
| 25Now therefore, please forgive my sin and return with me so I can worship the LORD." | 25Now therefore, please forgive my sin and return with me so I can worship the LORD.” |
| 26Samuel replied to Saul, "I will not return with you. Because you rejected the word of the LORD, the LORD has rejected you from being king over Israel." | 26“I will not return with you,” Samuel replied. “For you have rejected the word of the LORD, and He has rejected you as king over Israel.” |
| 27When Samuel turned to go, Saul grabbed the hem of his robe, and it tore. | 27As Samuel turned to go, Saul grabbed the hem of his robe, and it tore. |
| 28Samuel said to him, "The LORD has torn the kingship of Israel away from you today and has given it to your neighbor who is better than you. | 28So Samuel said to him, “The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to your neighbor who is better than you. |
| 29Furthermore, the Eternal One of Israel does not lie or change His mind, for He is not man who changes his mind." | 29Moreover, the Glory of Israel does not lie or change His mind, for He is not a man, that He should change His mind.” |
| 30Saul said, "I have sinned. Please honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel. Come back with me so I can bow in worship to the LORD your God." | 30“I have sinned,” Saul replied. “Please honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel. Come back with me, so that I may worship the LORD your God.” |
| 31Then Samuel went back, following Saul, and Saul bowed down to the LORD. | 31So Samuel went back with Saul, and Saul worshiped the LORD. |
| 32Samuel said, "Bring me Agag king of Amalek." Agag came to him trembling, for he thought, "Certainly the bitterness of death has come." | 32Then Samuel said, “Bring me Agag king of the Amalekites.” Agag came to him cheerfully, for he thought, “Surely the bitterness of death is past.” |
| 33Samuel declared: As your sword has made women childless, so your mother will be childless among women. Then he hacked Agag to pieces before the LORD at Gilgal. | 33But Samuel declared: “As your sword has made women childless, so your mother will be childless among women.” And Samuel hacked Agag to pieces before the LORD at Gilgal. |
| 34Samuel went to Ramah, and Saul went up to his home in Gibeah of Saul. | 34Then Samuel went to Ramah, but Saul went up to his home in Gibeah of Saul. |
| 35Even to the day of his death, Samuel never again visited Saul. Samuel mourned for Saul, and the LORD regretted He had made Saul king over Israel. | 35And to the day of his death, Samuel never again visited Saul. Samuel mourned for Saul, and the LORD regretted that He had made Saul king over Israel. |
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