22-23 Then Samuel said,

Do you think all God wants are sacrifices—
    empty rituals just for show?
He wants you to listen to him!
Plain listening is the thing,
    not staging a lavish religious production.
Not doing what God tells you
    is far worse than fooling around in the occult.
Getting self-important around God
    is far worse than making deals with your dead ancestors.
Because you said No to God’s command,
    he says No to your kingship.

24-25 Saul gave in and confessed, “I’ve sinned. I’ve trampled roughshod over God’s Word and your instructions. I cared more about pleasing the people. I let them tell me what to do. Oh, absolve me of my sin! Take my hand and lead me to the altar so I can worship God!”

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23 For rebellion is like the sin of divination,(A)
    and arrogance like the evil of idolatry.
Because you have rejected(B) the word of the Lord,
    he has rejected you as king.”

24 Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned.(C) I violated(D) the Lord’s command and your instructions. I was afraid(E) of the men and so I gave in to them. 25 Now I beg you, forgive(F) my sin and come back with me, so that I may worship the Lord.”

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