as others do; I have obeyed your command and have not followed paths of violence.

Declare me innocent, O LORD, because I do what is right and trust you completely.

With all my heart I try to serve you; keep me from disobeying your commandments.

I keep your law in my heart, so that I will not sin against you.

And so I do my best always to have a clear conscience before God and people.

You are our witnesses, and so is God, that our conduct toward you who believe was pure, right, and without fault.

I have not neglected your instructions, because you yourself are my teacher.

"I am sorry that I made Saul king; he has turned away from me and disobeyed my commands." Samuel was angry, and all night long he pleaded with the LORD.

These people really did not belong to our fellowship, and that is why they left us; if they had belonged to our fellowship, they would have stayed with us. But they left so that it might be clear that none of them really belonged to us.