As long as Samuel lived, he never again saw the king; but he grieved over him. The LORD was sorry that he had made Saul king of Israel.

he was sorry that he had ever made them and put them on the earth. He was so filled with regret

When the LORD's angel was about to destroy Jerusalem, the LORD changed his mind about punishing the people and said to the angel who was killing them, "Stop! That's enough!" The angel was by the threshing place of Araunah, a Jebusite.

The LORD made a solemn promise and will not take it back: "You will be a priest forever in the priestly order of Melchizedek."

If at any time I say that I am going to uproot, break down, or destroy any nation or kingdom,

On the other hand, if I say that I am going to plant or build up any nation or kingdom,

The LORD changed his mind and said, "What you saw will not take place."

God saw what they did; he saw that they had given up their wicked behavior. So he changed his mind and did not punish them as he had said he would.

So he prayed, " LORD, didn't I say before I left home that this is just what you would do? That's why I did my best to run away to Spain! I knew that you are a loving and merciful God, always patient, always kind, and always ready to change your mind and not punish.

and speaking for the whole community of the LORD, they said to them, "Why have you done this evil thing against the God of Israel? You have rebelled against the LORD by building this altar for yourselves! You are no longer following him!

But if you or your descendants stop following me, disobey the laws and commands I have given you, and worship other gods,

Their speech is wicked and full of lies; they no longer do what is wise and good.

Again and again they put God to the test and brought pain to the Holy God of Israel.

but were rebellious and disloyal like their ancestors, unreliable as a crooked arrow.

But when you punish the wicked, punish also those who abandon your ways. Peace be with Israel!

I will destroy those who have turned back and no longer follow me, those who do not come to me or ask me to guide them."

But whoever holds out to the end will be saved.

My righteous people, however, will believe and live; but if any of them turns back, I will not be pleased with them."

Go and attack the Amalekites and completely destroy everything they have. Don't leave a thing; kill all the men, women, children, and babies; the cattle, sheep, camels, and donkeys."

But Saul and his men spared Agag's life and did not kill the best sheep and cattle, the best calves and lambs, or anything else that was good; they destroyed only what was useless or worthless.

"That was a foolish thing to do," Samuel answered. "You have not obeyed the command the LORD your God gave you. If you had obeyed, he would have let you and your descendants rule over Israel forever.

As long as Samuel lived, he never again saw the king; but he grieved over him. The LORD was sorry that he had made Saul king of Israel.

The LORD said to Samuel, "How long will you go on grieving over Saul? I have rejected him as king of Israel. But now get some olive oil and go to Bethlehem, to a man named Jesse, because I have chosen one of his sons to be king."

My tears pour down like a river, because people do not obey your law.

I wish my head were a well of water, and my eyes a fountain of tears, so that I could cry day and night for my people who have been killed.

The people said, "Tell them to hurry and sing a funeral song for us, until our eyes fill with tears, and our eyelids are wet from crying."

If you will not listen, I will cry in secret because of your pride; I will cry bitterly, and my tears will flow because the LORD's people have been taken away as captives.

He came closer to the city, and when he saw it, he wept over it,

The time will come when your enemies will surround you with barricades, blockade you, and close in on you from every side.

I am speaking the truth; I belong to Christ and I do not lie. My conscience, ruled by the Holy Spirit, also assures me that I am not lying

for my people, my own flesh and blood! For their sake I could wish that I myself were under God's curse and separated from Christ.

As for me, the LORD forbid that I should sin against him by no longer praying for you. Instead, I will teach you what is good and right for you to do.

They oppose me, even though I love them and have prayed for them.

But now I tell you: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

At that time Jesus went up a hill to pray and spent the whole night there praying to God.