Samuel answered, "Even though you consider yourself of no importance, you are the leader of the tribes of Israel. The LORD anointed you king of Israel,

and he sent you out with orders to destroy those wicked people of Amalek. He told you to fight until you had killed them all.

"Tomorrow about this time I will send you a man from the tribe of Benjamin; anoint him as ruler of my people Israel, and he will rescue them from the Philistines. I have seen the suffering of my people and have heard their cries for help."

Then Samuel took a jar of olive oil and poured it on Saul's head, kissed him, and said, "The LORD anoints you as ruler of his people Israel. You will rule his people and protect them from all their enemies. And this is the proof to you that the LORD has chosen you to be the ruler of his people:

"Stop," Samuel ordered, "and I will tell you what the LORD said to me last night." "Tell me," Saul said.

All will go well with you if you honor the LORD your God, serve him, listen to him, and obey his commands, and if you and your king follow him.

"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.

The spirit of the LORD speaks through me; his message is on my lips.

The God of Israel has spoken; the protector of Israel said to me: "The king who rules with justice, who rules in obedience to God,

And may the LORD your God give you insight and wisdom so that you may govern Israel according to his Law.

If you obey all the laws which the LORD gave to Moses for Israel, you will be successful. Be determined and confident, and don't let anything make you afraid.

Now listen to this warning, you kings; learn this lesson, you rulers of the world:

Serve the LORD with fear; tremble