1 Samuel 15:19

15:19 Why haven’t you obeyed 1  the Lord? Instead you have greedily rushed upon the plunder! You have done what is wrong in the Lord’s estimation.” 2 

1 Samuel 15:22-24

15:22 Then Samuel said,

“Does the Lord take pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices

as much as he does in obedience? 3 

Certainly, 4  obedience 5  is better than sacrifice;

paying attention is better than 6  the fat of rams.

15:23 For rebellion is like the sin of divination,

and presumption is like the evil of idolatry.

Because you have rejected the word of the Lord,

he has rejected you as 7  king.”

15:24 Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned, for I have disobeyed what the Lord commanded 8  and what you said as well. 9  For I was afraid of the army, and I followed their wishes. 10 

1 tn Heb “listened to the voice of the Lord.”

2 tn Heb “you have done what is evil in the eyes of the Lord.”

3 tn Heb “as [in] listening to the voice of the Lord.”

4 tn Heb “look.”

5 tn Heb “listening.”

6 tn The expression “is better” is understood here by ellipsis (see the immediately preceding statement).

7 tn Or “from [being].”

8 tn Heb “the mouth of the Lord.”

9 tn Heb “and your words.”

10 tn Heb “and I listened to their voice.”