“Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
    as much as in obeying the Lord?
To obey is better than sacrifice,^(A)
    and to heed is better than the fat of rams.

⁶ Sacrifice and offering you did not desire—^(A)
    but my ears you have opened^[a]—^(B)
    burnt offerings^(C) and sin offerings^[b] you did not require.

¹⁰ Hear the word of the Lord,^(A)
    you rulers of Sodom;^(B)
listen to the instruction^(C) of our God,
    you people of Gomorrah!^(D)
11 “The multitude of your sacrifices—
    what are they to me?” says the Lord.
“I have more than enough of burnt offerings,
    of rams and the fat of fattened animals;^(E)
I have no pleasure^(F)
    in the blood of bulls^(G) and lambs and goats.^(H)
12 When you come to appear before me,
    who has asked this of you,^(I)
    this trampling of my courts?

²⁰ What do I care about incense from Sheba^(A)
    or sweet calamus^(B) from a distant land?
Your burnt offerings are not acceptable;^(C)
    your sacrifices^(D) do not please me.”^(E)

⁶ For I desire mercy, not sacrifice,^(A)
    and acknowledgment^(B) of God rather than burnt offerings.^(C)