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1 Samuel 15:22-26
New International Version
1 Samuel 15:22-26
New International Version
22 But Samuel replied:
“Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
as much as in obeying the Lord?
To obey is better than sacrifice,(A)
and to heed is better than the fat of rams.
23 For rebellion is like the sin of divination,(B)
and arrogance like the evil of idolatry.
Because you have rejected(C) the word of the Lord,
he has rejected you as king.”
24 Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned.(D) I violated(E) the Lord’s command and your instructions. I was afraid(F) of the men and so I gave in to them. 25 Now I beg you, forgive(G) my sin and come back with me, so that I may worship the Lord.”
26 But Samuel said to him, “I will not go back with you. You have rejected(H) the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you as king over Israel!”
1 Samuel 15:22-26
New King James Version
1 Samuel 15:22-26
New King James Version
22 So Samuel said:
(A)“Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,
As in obeying the voice of the Lord?
Behold, (B)to obey is better than sacrifice,
And to heed than the fat of rams.
23 For rebellion is as the sin of [a]witchcraft,
And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the Lord,
(C)He also has rejected you from being king.”
24 (D)Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and your words, because I (E)feared the people and obeyed their voice. 25 Now therefore, please pardon my sin, and return with me, that I may worship the Lord.”
26 But Samuel said to Saul, “I will not return with you, (F)for you have rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you from being king over Israel.”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 1 Samuel 15:23 divination
1 Samuel 15:22-26
New American Standard Bible
1 Samuel 15:22-26
New American Standard Bible
22 Samuel said,
“(A)Does the Lord have as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
As in obeying the voice of the Lord?
Behold, (B)to obey is better than a sacrifice,
And to pay attention is better than the fat of rams.
23 For rebellion is as reprehensible as the sin of (C)divination,
And insubordination is as reprehensible as (D)false religion and idolatry.
Since you have rejected the word of the Lord,
(E)He has also rejected you from being king.”
24 Then Saul said to Samuel, “(F)I have sinned, for (G)I have violated the [a]command of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and listened to their voice. 25 Now then, (H)please pardon my sin and return with me, so that I may worship the Lord.” 26 But Samuel said to Saul, “I will not return with you; for (I)you have rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you from being king over Israel.”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 1 Samuel 15:24 Lit mouth
1 Samuel 15:22-26
Amplified Bible
1 Samuel 15:22-26
Amplified Bible
22 Samuel said,
“Has the Lord as great a delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
As in obedience to the voice of the Lord?
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,
And to heed [is better] than the fat of rams.
23
“For rebellion is as [serious as] the sin of divination (fortune-telling),
And disobedience is as [serious as] false religion and idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the Lord,
He also has rejected [a]you as king.”
24 Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned; for I have transgressed the command of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice. 25 Now, please, pardon my sin and return with me, so that I may worship the Lord.” 26 But Samuel said to Saul, “I will not return with you; for you have rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you from being king over Israel.”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 1 Samuel 15:23 The passage does not say that God rejected Saul, the man, but rejected his being king of Israel.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
New King James Version (NKJV) 
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) 
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
Amplified Bible (AMP)
Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631. All rights reserved.