24 Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned.(A) I violated(B) the Lord’s command and your instructions. I was afraid(C) of the men and so I gave in to them. 25 Now I beg you, forgive(D) 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(E) the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you as king over Israel!”

27 As Samuel turned to leave, Saul caught hold of the hem of his robe,(F) and it tore.(G) 28 Samuel said to him, “The Lord has torn(H) the kingdom(I) of Israel from you today and has given it to one of your neighbors—to one better than you.(J) 29 He who is the Glory of Israel does not lie(K) or change(L) his mind; for he is not a human being, that he should change his mind.”

30 Saul replied, “I have sinned.(M) But please honor(N) me before the elders of my people and before Israel; come back with me, so that I may worship the Lord your God.”

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