"Cursedbe the one who doesthe LORD'Sworknegligently,And cursedbe the one who restrainshis swordfrom blood.
As the kingpassedby, he criedto the kingand said,"Your servantwentout into the midstof the battle;and behold,a manturnedasideand broughta manto me and said,'Guardthisman;iffor anyreasonhe is missing,then your lifeshall be for his life,orelse you shall paya talentof silver.'
"While your servantwas busyhereand there,he was gone."And the kingof Israelsaidto him, "Soshall your judgmentbe; you yourselfhave decided[it]."
He saidto him, "Thussaysthe LORD,'Becauseyou have letgoout of [your] handthe manwhom I had devotedto destruction,therefore your lifeshall gofor his life,and your peoplefor his people.'"
So the manof Godwas angrywith him and said,"You should have struckfiveorsixtimes,thenyou would have struckAramuntilyou would have destroyed[it]. But nowyou shall strikeAram[only] threetimes."
and sayto them, 'Thussaysthe LORD,the Godof Israel,"Cursedis the manwhodoes not heedthe wordsof thiscovenant
"Ah,swordof the LORD,Howlongwill you not be quiet?Withdrawinto your sheath;Be at restand staystill.
"Howcan it be quiet,When the LORDhas givenit an order?AgainstAshkelonand againstthe seacoast--ThereHe has assignedit."
The LORDhas openedHis armoryAnd has broughtforththe weaponsof His indignation,For it is a workof the LordGODof hostsIn the landof the Chaldeans.
Putallher youngbullsto the sword;Let them godownto the slaughter!Woebe upon them, for their dayhas come,The timeof their punishment.
but do not stay[there] yourselves;pursueyour enemiesand attackthem in the rear.Do not allowthem to entertheir cities,for the LORDyour Godhas deliveredthem into your hand."
CurseMeroz,'saidthe angelof the LORD,'Utterlycurseits inhabitants;Becausethey did not cometo the helpof the LORD,To the helpof the LORDagainst the warriors.'
Nowgoand strikeAmalekand utterlydestroyallthat he has, and do not sparehim; but putto deathbothmanand woman,childand infant,oxand sheep,cameland donkey.'"
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.
