"I regretthat I have madeSaulking,for he has turnedbackfrom followingMe and has not carriedout My commands."And Samuelwas distressedand criedout to the LORDallnight.
The LORDwas sorrythat He had mademanon the earth,and He was grievedin His heart.
The LORDsaid,"I will blotout manwhomI have createdfrom the faceof the land,from manto animalsto creepingthingsand to birdsof the sky;for I amsorrythat I have madethem."
When the angelstretchedout his handtoward Jerusalemto destroyit, the LORDrelentedfrom the calamityand saidto the angelwho destroyedthe people,"It is enough!Nowrelaxyour hand!"And the angelof the LORDwas by the threshingfloorof Araunahthe Jebusite.
Now the LORDwas angrywith Solomonbecausehis heartwas turnedawayfrom the LORD,the Godof Israel,who had appearedto him twice,
So Sauldiedfor his trespasswhichhe committedagainst the LORD,becauseof the wordof the LORDwhichhe did not keep;and alsobecause he askedcounsel of a medium,makinginquiry[of it],
And Godsentan angelto Jerusalemto destroyit; but as he was about to destroy[it], the LORDsawand was sorryoverthe calamity,and saidto the destroyingangel,"It is enough;nowrelaxyour hand."And the angelof the LORDwas standingby the threshingfloorof Ornanthe Jebusite.
Becausethey turnedasidefrom followingHim, And hadnoregardfor anyof His ways;
In returnfor my lovethey actas my accusers;But I am [in] prayer.
The LORDhas swornand will not changeHis mind,"You are a priestforeverAccordingto the orderof Melchizedek."
My eyesshedstreamsof water,Becausethey do not keepYour law.Tsadhe.
But as for those who turnasideto their crookedways,The LORDwill leadthem away with the doersof iniquity.Peacebe upon Israel.
The wordsof his mouthare wickednessand deceit;He has ceasedto be wise[and] to dogood.
Againand again they temptedGod,And painedthe HolyOneof Israel.
But turnedbackand actedtreacherouslylike their fathers;They turnedasidelike a treacherousbow.
Then Mosesentreatedthe LORDhis God,and said,"O LORD,whydoes Your angerburnagainst Your peoplewhomYou have broughtout from the landof Egyptwith greatpowerand with a mightyhand?
So the LORDchangedHis mindaboutthe harmwhichHe saidHe would doto His people.
"They have turnedbackto the iniquitiesof their ancestorswhorefusedto hearMy words,and they have goneafterothergodsto servethem; the houseof Israeland the houseof Judahhave brokenMy covenantwhichI madewith their fathers."
But ifyou will not listento it, My soulwill sobin secretfor [such] pride;And my eyeswill bitterlyweepAnd flowdownwith tears,Becausethe flockof the LORDhas been takencaptive.
"Yet you turnedand profanedMy name,and eachmantookbackhis maleservantand eachmanhis femaleservantwhomyou had setfreeaccording to their desire,and you broughtthem into subjectionto be your maleservantsand femaleservants."'
Ohthat my headwere watersAnd my eyesa fountainof tears,That I might weepdayand nightFor the slainof the daughterof my people!
"Let them makehasteand takeup a wailingfor us, That our eyesmay shedtearsAnd our eyelidsflowwith water.
"But when a righteousmanturnsawayfrom his righteousness,commitsiniquityand doesaccording to allthe abominationsthat a wickedmandoes,will he live?Allhis righteousdeedswhichhe has donewill not be rememberedfor his treacherywhichhe has committedand his sinwhichhe has committed;for them he will die.
The LORDchangedHis mindaboutthis."It shall not be," saidthe LORD.
When Godsawtheir deeds,that they turnedfrom their wickedway,then Godrelentedconcerningthe calamitywhichHe had declaredHe would bringupon them. And He did not do[it].
He prayedto the LORDand said,"PleaseLORD,was not thiswhatI saidwhileI was stillin my [own] country?Thereforein order to forestallthis I fledto Tarshish,for I knewthat You are a graciousand compassionateGod,slowto angerand abundantin lovingkindness,and one who relentsconcerningcalamity.
And those who have turnedbackfrom followingthe LORD,And those whohave not soughtthe LORDor inquiredof Him."
"But the one who enduresto the end,he will be saved.
"But I sayto you, loveyour enemiesand prayfor thosewho persecuteyou,
It was at thistimethat He went offto the mountainto pray,and He spent the whole nightin prayerto God.
BUT MY RIGHTEOUS ONESHALL LIVEBY FAITH;AND IFHE SHRINKS BACK,MY SOULHASNOPLEASUREIN HIM.
"Thussaysthe wholecongregationof the LORD,'Whatis thisunfaithfulactwhichyou have committedagainst the Godof Israel,turningawayfrom followingthe LORDthis day,by buildingyourselves an altar,to rebelagainst the LORDthis day?
"Moreover,as for me, farbe it from me that I should sinagainst the LORDby ceasingto prayfor you; but I will instructyou in the goodand rightway.
Samuelsaidto Saul,"You have actedfoolishly;you have not keptthe commandmentof the LORDyour God,whichHe commandedyou, for nowthe LORDwould have establishedyour kingdomoverIsraelforever.
Then the wordof the LORDcameto Samuel,saying,
Nowgoand strikeAmalekand utterlydestroyallthat he has, and do not sparehim; but putto deathbothmanand woman,childand infant,oxand sheep,cameland donkey.'"
Samueldidnot seeSaulagainuntilthe dayof his death;for SamuelgrievedoverSaul.And the LORDregrettedthat He had madeSaulkingoverIsrael.
But Sauland the peoplesparedAgagand the bestof the sheep,the oxen,the fatlings,the lambs,and allthat was good,and were not willingto destroythem utterly;but everythingdespisedand worthless,that they utterlydestroyed.
Now the LORDsaidto Samuel,"Howlongwill you grieveoverSaul,since I have rejectedhim from beingkingoverIsrael?Fillyour hornwith oiland go;I will sendyou to Jessethe Bethlehemite,for I have selecteda kingfor Myself among his sons."
But the thingwas displeasingin the sightof Samuelwhenthey said,"Giveus a kingto judgeus." And Samuelprayedto the LORD.
