1 Samuel 15 – read and compare multiple versions of the Bible

World English Bible

1 Samuel 15 (WEBP)

[1] Samuel said to Saul, “Yahweh sent me to anoint you to be king over his people, over Israel. Now therefore listen to the voice of Yahweh’s words.
[2] Yahweh of Armies says, ‘I remember what Amalek did to Israel, how he set himself against him on the way when he came up out of Egypt.
[3] Now go and strike Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and don’t spare them; but kill both man and woman, infant and nursing baby, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’ ”
[4] Saul summoned the people, and counted them in Telaim, two hundred thousand footmen and ten thousand men of Judah.
[5] Saul came to the city of Amalek, and set an ambush in the valley.
[6] Saul said to the Kenites, “Go, depart, go down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them; for you showed kindness to all the children of Israel when they came up out of Egypt.” So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites.
[7] Saul struck the Amalekites, from Havilah as you go to Shur, which is before Egypt.
[8] He took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword.
[9] But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, of the cattle, of the fat calves, of the lambs, and all that was good, and were not willing to utterly destroy them; but everything that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.
[10] Then Yahweh’s word came to Samuel, saying,
[11] “It grieves me that I have set up Saul to be king, for he has turned back from following me, and has not performed my commandments.” Samuel was angry; and he cried to Yahweh all night.
[12] Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning; and Samuel was told, saying, “Saul came to Carmel, and behold, he set up a monument for himself, turned, passed on, and went down to Gilgal.”
[13] Samuel came to Saul; and Saul said to him, “You are blessed by Yahweh! I have performed the commandment of Yahweh.”
[14] Samuel said, “Then what does this bleating of the sheep in my ears and the lowing of the cattle which I hear mean?”
[15] Saul said, “They have brought them from the Amalekites; for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the cattle, to sacrifice to Yahweh your God. We have utterly destroyed the rest.”
[16] Then Samuel said to Saul, “Stay, and I will tell you what Yahweh said to me last night.” He said to him, “Say on.”
[17] Samuel said, “Though you were little in your own sight, weren’t you made the head of the tribes of Israel? Yahweh anointed you king over Israel;
[18] and Yahweh sent you on a journey, and said, ‘Go, and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are consumed.’
[19] Why then didn’t you obey Yahweh’s voice, but took the plunder, and did that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight?”
[20] Saul said to Samuel, “But I have obeyed Yahweh’s voice, and have gone the way which Yahweh sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.
[21] But the people took of the plunder, sheep and cattle, the best of the devoted things, to sacrifice to Yahweh your God in Gilgal.”
[22] Samuel said, “Has Yahweh as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying Yahweh’s voice? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.
[23] For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as idolatry and teraphim. Because you have rejected Yahweh’s word, he has also rejected you from being king.”
[24] Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned; for I have transgressed the commandment of Yahweh and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice.
[25] Now therefore, please pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship Yahweh.”
[26] Samuel said to Saul, “I will not return with you; for you have rejected Yahweh’s word, and Yahweh has rejected you from being king over Israel.”
[27] As Samuel turned around to go away, Saul grabbed the skirt of his robe, and it tore.
[28] Samuel said to him, “Yahweh has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today, and has given it to a neighbor of yours who is better than you.
[29] Also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent; for he is not a man, that he should repent.”
[30] Then he said, “I have sinned; yet please honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel, and come back with me, that I may worship Yahweh your God.”
[31] So Samuel went back with Saul; and Saul worshiped Yahweh.
[32] Then Samuel said, “Bring Agag the king of the Amalekites here to me!” Agag came to him cheerfully. Agag said, “Surely the bitterness of death is past.”
[33] Samuel said, “As your sword has made women childless, so your mother will be childless among women!” Then Samuel cut Agag in pieces before Yahweh in Gilgal.
[34] Then Samuel went to Ramah; and Saul went up to his house to Gibeah of Saul.
[35] Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death, but Samuel mourned for Saul. Yahweh grieved that he had made Saul king over Israel.

1 Samuel 15:23 teraphim were household idols that may have been associated with inheritance rights to the household property.

Scripture quotations are taken from The World English Bible™ of eBible.org, 2020 stable text edition. It is in the public domain.

King James w/Strong’s #s

1 Samuel 15 (KJVS)

[1] Samuel also said () unto Saul , The LORD sent () me to anoint () thee [to be] king over his people , over Israel : now therefore hearken () thou unto the voice of the words of the LORD .
[2] Thus saith () the LORD of hosts , I remember () [that] which Amalek did () to Israel , how he laid () [wait] for him in the way , when he came up () from Egypt .
[3] Now go () and smite () Amalek , and utterly destroy () all that they have, and spare () them not; but slay () both man and woman , infant and suckling (), ox and sheep , camel and ass .
[4] And Saul gathered the people together (), and numbered () them in Telaim , two hundred thousand footmen , and ten thousand men of Judah .
[5] And Saul came () to a city of Amalek , and laid wait () () in the valley .
[6] And Saul said () unto the Kenites , Go (), depart (), get you down () from among the Amalekites , lest I destroy () you with them: for ye shewed () kindness to all the children of Israel , when they came up () out of Egypt . So the Kenites departed () from among the Amalekites .
[7] And Saul smote () the Amalekites from Havilah [until] thou comest () to Shur , that [is] over against Egypt .
[8] And he took () Agag the king of the Amalekites alive , and utterly destroyed () all the people with the edge of the sword .
[9] But Saul and the people spared () Agag , and the best of the sheep , and of the oxen , and of the fatlings , and the lambs , and all [that was] good , and would () not utterly destroy () them: but every thing [that was] vile and refuse (), that they destroyed utterly ().
[10] Then came the word of the LORD unto Samuel , saying (),
[11] It repenteth () me that I have set up () Saul [to be] king : for he is turned back () from following me, and hath not performed () my commandments . And it grieved () Samuel ; and he cried () unto the LORD all night .
[12] And when Samuel rose early () to meet () Saul in the morning , it was told () Samuel , saying (), Saul came () to Carmel , and, behold, he set him up () a place , and is gone about (), and passed on (), and gone down () to Gilgal .
[13] And Samuel came () to Saul : and Saul said () unto him, Blessed () [be] thou of the LORD : I have performed () the commandment of the LORD .
[14] And Samuel said (), What [meaneth] then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears , and the lowing of the oxen which I hear ()?
[15] And Saul said (), They have brought () them from the Amalekites : for the people spared () the best of the sheep and of the oxen , to sacrifice () unto the LORD thy God ; and the rest () we have utterly destroyed ().
[16] Then Samuel said () unto Saul , Stay (), and I will tell () thee what the LORD hath said () to me this night . And he said () unto him, Say on ().
[17] And Samuel said (), When thou [wast] little in thine own sight , [wast] thou not [made] the head of the tribes of Israel , and the LORD anointed () thee king over Israel ?
[18] And the LORD sent () thee on a journey , and said (), Go () and utterly destroy () the sinners the Amalekites , and fight () against them until they be consumed ().
[19] Wherefore then didst thou not obey () the voice of the LORD , but didst fly () upon the spoil , and didst () evil in the sight of the LORD ?
[20] And Saul said () unto Samuel , Yea, I have obeyed () the voice of the LORD , and have gone () the way which the LORD sent () me, and have brought () Agag the king of Amalek , and have utterly destroyed () the Amalekites .
[21] But the people took () of the spoil , sheep and oxen , the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed , to sacrifice () unto the LORD thy God in Gilgal .
[22] And Samuel said (), Hath the LORD [as great] delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices , as in obeying () the voice of the LORD ? Behold, to obey () [is] better than sacrifice , [and] to hearken () than the fat of rams .
[23] For rebellion [is as] the sin of witchcraft , and stubbornness () [is as] iniquity and idolatry . Because thou hast rejected () the word of the LORD , he hath also rejected () thee from [being] king .
[24] And Saul said () unto Samuel , I have sinned (): for I have transgressed () the commandment of the LORD , and thy words : because I feared () the people , and obeyed () their voice .
[25] Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon () my sin , and turn again () with me, that I may worship () the LORD .
[26] And Samuel said () unto Saul , I will not return () with thee: for thou hast rejected () the word of the LORD , and the LORD hath rejected () thee from being king over Israel .
[27] And as Samuel turned about () to go away (), he laid hold () upon the skirt of his mantle , and it rent ().
[28] And Samuel said () unto him, The LORD hath rent () the kingdom of Israel from thee this day , and hath given () it to a neighbour of thine, [that is] better than thou.
[29] And also the Strength of Israel will not lie () nor repent (): for he [is] not a man , that he should repent ().
[30] Then he said (), I have sinned (): [yet] honour () me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people , and before Israel , and turn again () with me, that I may worship () the LORD thy God .
[31] So Samuel turned again () after Saul ; and Saul worshipped () the LORD .
[32] Then said () Samuel , Bring ye hither () to me Agag the king of the Amalekites . And Agag came () unto him delicately . And Agag said (), Surely the bitterness of death is past ().
[33] And Samuel said (), As thy sword hath made women childless (), so shall thy mother be childless () among women . And Samuel hewed Agag in pieces () before the LORD in Gilgal .
[34] Then Samuel went () to Ramah ; and Saul went up () to his house to Gibeah of Saul .
[35] And Samuel came no more () to see () Saul until the day of his death : nevertheless Samuel mourned () for Saul : and the LORD repented () that he had made Saul king () over Israel .

Young’s Literal Translation

1 Samuel 15 (YLT)

[1] And Samuel saith unto Saul, ‘Me did Jehovah send to anoint thee for king over His people, over Israel; and now, hearken to the voice of the words of Jehovah:
[2] ‘Thus said Jehovah of Hosts, I have looked after that which Amalek did to Israel, that which he laid for him in the way in his going up out of Egypt.
[3] Now, go, and thou hast smitten Amalek, and devoted all that it hath, and thou hast no pity on it, and hast put to death from man unto woman, from infant unto suckling, from ox unto sheep, from camel unto ass.’
[4] And Saul summoneth the people, and inspecteth them in Telaim, two hundred thousand footmen, and ten thousand are men of Judah.
[5] And Saul cometh in unto a city of Amalek, and layeth wait in a valley;
[6] and Saul saith unto the Kenite, ‘Go, turn aside, go down from the midst of Amalek, lest I consume thee with it, and thou didst kindness with all the sons of Israel, in their going up out of Egypt;’ and the Kenite turneth aside from the midst of Amalek.
[7] And Saul smiteth Amalek from Havilah-thy going in to Shur, which is on the front of Egypt,
[8] and he catcheth Agag king of Amalek alive, and all the people he hath devoted by the mouth of the sword;
[9] and Saul hath pity-also the people-on Agag, and on the best of the flock, and of the herd, and of the seconds, and on the lambs, and on all that is good, and have not been willing to devote them; and all the work, despised and wasted-it they devoted.
[10] And the word of Jehovah is unto Samuel, saying,
[11] ‘I have repented that I caused Saul to reign for king, for he hath turned back from after Me, and My words he hath not performed;’ and it is displeasing to Samuel, and he crieth unto Jehovah all the night.
[12] And Samuel riseth early to meet Saul in the morning, and it is declared to Samuel, saying, ‘Saul hath come in to Carmel, and lo, he is setting up to himself a monument, and goeth round, and passeth over, and goeth down to Gilgal.’
[13] And Samuel cometh in unto Saul, and Saul saith to him, ‘Blessed art thou of Jehovah; I have performed the word of Jehovah.’
[14] And Samuel saith, ‘And what is the noise of this flock in mine ears-and the noise of the herd which I am hearing?’
[15] And Saul saith, ‘From Amalek they have brought them, because the people had pity on the best of the flock, and of the herd, in order to sacrifice to Jehovah thy God, and the remnant we have devoted.’
[16] And Samuel saith unto Saul, ‘Desist, and I declare to thee that which Jehovah hath spoken unto me to-night;’ and he saith to him, ‘Speak.’
[17] And Samuel saith, ‘Art not thou, if thou art little in thine own eyes, head of the tribes of Israel? and Jehovah doth anoint thee for king over Israel,
[18] and Jehovah sendeth thee in the way, and saith, Go, and thou hast devoted the sinners, the Amalekite, and fought against them till they are consumed;
[19] and why hast thou not hearkened to the voice of Jehovah-and dost fly unto the spoil, and dost do the evil thing in the eyes of Jehovah?’
[20] And Saul saith unto Samuel, ‘Because-I have hearkened to the voice of Jehovah, and I go in the way which Jehovah hath sent me, and bring in Agag king of Amalek, and Amalek I have devoted;
[21] and the people taketh of the spoil of the flock and herd, the first part of the devoted thing, for sacrifice to Jehovah thy God in Gilgal.’
[22] And Samuel saith, ‘Hath Jehovah had delight in burnt-offerings and sacrifices as in hearkening to the voice of Jehovah? lo, hearkening than sacrifice is better; to give attention than fat of rams;
[23] for a sin of divination is rebellion, and iniquity and teraphim is stubbornness; because thou hast rejected the word of Jehovah, He also doth reject thee from being king.’
[24] And Saul saith unto Samuel, ‘I have sinned, for I passed over the command of Jehovah, and thy words; because I have feared the people, I also hearken to their voice;
[25] and now, bear, I pray thee, with my sin, and turn back with me, and I bow myself to Jehovah.’
[26] And Samuel saith unto Saul, ‘I do not turn back with thee; for thou hast rejected the word of Jehovah, and Jehovah doth reject thee from being king over Israel.’
[27] And Samuel turneth round to go, and he layeth hold on the skirt of his upper robe-and it is rent!
[28] And Samuel saith unto him, ‘Jehovah hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee to-day, and given it to thy neighbour who is better than thou;
[29] and also, the Pre-eminence of Israel doth not lie nor repent, for He is not a man to be penitent.’
[30] And he saith, ‘I have sinned; now, honour me, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn back with me; and I have bowed myself to Jehovah thy God.’
[31] And Samuel turneth back after Saul, and Saul boweth himself to Jehovah;
[32] and Samuel saith, ‘Bring ye nigh unto me Agag king of Amalek,’ and Agag cometh unto him daintily, and Agag saith, ‘Surely the bitterness of death hath turned aside.’
[33] And Samuel saith, ‘As thy sword bereaved women-so is thy mother bereaved above women;’ and Samuel heweth Agag in pieces before Jehovah in Gilgal.
[34] And Samuel goeth to Ramath, and Saul hath gone unto his house-to Gibeah of Saul.
[35] And Samuel hath not added to see Saul till the day of his death, for Samuel mourned for Saul, and Jehovah repented that He had caused Saul to reign over Israel.