1 Samuel 15:22

15:22 Then Samuel said,

“Does the Lord take pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices

as much as he does in obedience? ¹ 

Certainly, ²  obedience ³  is better than sacrifice;

paying attention is better than ⁴  the fat of rams.

1 Samuel 15:30

15:30 Saul ⁵  again replied, “I have sinned. But please honor me before the elders of my people and before Israel. Go back with me so I may worship the Lord your God.”

1 Samuel 24:10

24:10 Today your own eyes see how the Lord delivered you – this very day – into my hands in the cave. Some told me to kill you, but I had pity ⁶  on you and said, ‘I will not extend my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord’s chosen one.’ ⁷ 

1 Samuel 26:16

26:16 This failure on your part isn’t good! ⁸  As surely as the Lord lives, you people who have not protected your lord, the Lord’s chosen one, are as good as dead! ⁹  Now look where the king’s spear and the jug of water that was by his head are!”

[15:22]  ¹ tn Heb “as [in] listening to the voice of the Lord.”

[15:22]  ² tn Heb “look.”

[15:22]  ³ tn Heb “listening.”

[15:22]  ⁴ tn The expression “is better” is understood here by ellipsis (see the immediately preceding statement).

[15:30]  ⁵ tn Heb “he”; the referent (Saul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[24:10]  ⁶ tn Heb “it had pity,” apparently with the understood subject being “my eye,” in accordance with a common expression.

[24:10]  ⁷ tn Heb “anointed.”

[26:16]  ⁸ tn Heb “Not good [is] this thing which you have done.”

[26:16]  ⁹ tn Heb “you are sons of death.”