The Lord said: These people approach me with their speeches to honour me with lip-service, yet their hearts are far from me, and human rules direct their worship of me.
You have gone astray at the cost of your lives because you are the ones who sent me to the Lord your God, saying, “Pray to the Lord our God on our behalf, and as for all that the Lord our God says, tell it to us, and we’ll act accordingly.”
I will send him against a godless nation; I will command him to go against a people destined for my rage, to take spoils, to plunder, and to trample them down like clay in the streets.
Saul said, ‘I have sinned. Please honour 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.’
So he poured out his furious anger and the power of war on Jacob. It surrounded him with fire, but he did not know it; it burned him, but he didn’t take it to heart.
Why, Lord, do you make us stray from your ways? You harden our hearts so that we do not fear you. Return, because of your servants, the tribes of your heritage.
‘As for you, son of man, your people are talking about you near the city walls and in the doorways of their houses. One person speaks to another, each saying to his brother, “Come and hear what the message is that comes from the Lord! ”