| Holman Christian Standard Bible | International Standard Version |
| 1Samuel told Saul, "The LORD sent me to anoint you as king over His people Israel. Now, listen to the words of the LORD. | 1Samuel told Saul, "The LORD sent me to anoint you king over his people, Israel. Now 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 the Heavenly Armies says: 'I'll punish Amalek for what he did to Israel, when he set himself against Israel in the way, as they were going 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 Amalek. Completely destroy all that they have. Don't spare them, but put to death both man and woman, child and infant, both ox and sheep, camel and donkey.'" |
| 4Then Saul summoned the troops and counted them at Telaim: 200,000 foot soldiers and 10,000 men from Judah. | 4Saul summoned the people and mustered them in Telaim, 200,000 foot soldiers and 10,000 men from Judah. |
| 5Saul came to the city of Amalek and set up an ambush in the wadi. | 5Saul came to the city of Amalek and set an ambush 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. | 6Saul told the Kenites, "Withdraw from the Amalekites so that I don't destroy you with them, for you showed kindness to all the Israelis when they departed from Egypt." So the Kenites withdrew from the Amalekites. |
| 7Then Saul struck down the Amalekites from Havilah all the way to Shur, which is next to Egypt. | 7Saul attacked the Amalekites 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 alive Agag king of Amalek, but he completely destroyed all the people, executing them with swords. |
| 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 the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep and cattle—the fattened animals and lambs—along with all that was good. They were not willing to completely destroy them, but they did completely destroy everything that was worthless and inferior. |
| 10Then the word of the LORD came to Samuel, | 10This message from the LORD came to Samuel: |
| 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 made Saul king, because he has turned away from following me and has not carried out my commands." Samuel was angry, and he cried out to the LORD all 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." | 12Samuel got up early in the morning to meet Saul, but Samuel was told, "Saul went up to Carmel to set up a monument for himself. Then he turned around and traveled on to Gilgal." |
| 13When Samuel came to him, Saul said, "May the LORD bless you. I have carried out the LORD's instructions." | 13Samuel approached Saul. "May the LORD bless you," Saul said. "I've carried out the LORD's command." |
| 14Samuel replied, "Then what is this sound of sheep and cattle I hear?" | 14Samuel said, "Then what is this bleating of sheep in my ears and the 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 replied, "They brought them from the Amalekites. The people spared the best of the sheep and cattle to offer sacrifices to the LORD your God, and the rest they completely destroyed." |
| 16"Stop!" exclaimed Samuel. "Let me tell you what the LORD said to me last night." "Tell me," he replied. | 16"Be quiet!" Samuel said. "I'll tell you what the LORD told me last night." Saul told him, "Speak." |
| 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 | 17So Samuel replied, "Is it not true that though you were small in your own eyes you became head of the tribes of Israel, and 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.' | 18The LORD sent you on a mission: 'Go and completely destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they're destroyed.' |
| 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?" | 19Why didn't you obey the LORD, but grabbed the spoil and did evil in the LORD's sight?" |
| 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. | 20Saul told Samuel, "I did obey the LORD. I went on the mission on which the LORD sent me, I brought Agag king of Amalek, and I completely destroyed the Amalekites. |
| 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 people took some of the spoil—sheep, cattle, and the best of what was to be completely destroyed—to sacrifice 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. | 22Samuel said, "Does the LORD delight as much in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the LORD? Surely, to obey is better than sacrifice, to pay attention 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. | 23Indeed, rebellion is the sin of divination, and arrogance is iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected this message from the LORD, he has rejected you from being 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. | 24"I've sinned," Saul replied to Samuel. "I've broken the LORD's command and your word, because I was afraid of the people and listened to them. |
| 25Now therefore, please forgive my sin and return with me so I can worship the LORD." | 25Now, please forgive my sin and return with me so I may 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." | 26Samuel told Saul, "I won't return with you because you have rejected the message from the LORD, and the LORD has rejected you from being king over Israel." |
| 27When Samuel turned to go, Saul grabbed the hem of his robe, and it tore. | 27As Samuel turned to go Saul seized him by the corner 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. | 28Samuel told him, "The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel away from you today, and he 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's 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've sinned," Saul said. "But please honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel, and return with me so I may worship the LORD your God." |
| 31Then Samuel went back, following Saul, and Saul bowed down to the LORD. | 31Samuel returned, following Saul, and Saul worshipped 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 Agag king of Amalek to me." Agag came to him in fetters, saying to himself, "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. | 33Samuel said, "Just as your sword has made women childless, so your mother will be childless among women." Then Samuel cut Agag into pieces in the LORD's presence in Gilgal. |
| 34Samuel went to Ramah, and Saul went up to his home in Gibeah of Saul. | 34Then Samuel went to Ramah, and Saul went to his house 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. | 35Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death, but Samuel grieved over Saul, and the LORD regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel. |
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