As the king heard this fearful sentence he cried out, "I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice." Terrified by the denunciation of the prophet, Saul acknowledged his guilt, which he had before stubbornly denied; but he still persisted in casting blame upon the people, declaring that he had sinned through fear of them.

Da kongen hørte denne frygtelige dom, udbrød han: "Jeg har syndet; thi jeg har overtrådt Herrens befaling og dine ord, men jeg frygtede folket og føjede dem." I sin forfærdelse over profetens skarpe irettesættelse indrømmede Saul sin skyld, som han hårdnakket havde nægtet at indrømme før, men han blev ved med at laste folket og hævde, at det var af frygt for dem, at han havde syndet.