“Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
    as much as in obeying the Lord?
To obey is better than sacrifice,^(D)
    and to heed is better than the fat of rams.
²³ For rebellion is like the sin of divination,^(E)
    and arrogance like the evil of idolatry.
Because you have rejected^(F) the word of the Lord,
    he has rejected you as king.”

⁷ “Listen, my people, and I will speak;
    I will testify^(A) against you, Israel:
    I am God, your God.^(B)
8 I bring no charges^(C) against you concerning your sacrifices
    or concerning your burnt offerings,^(D) which are ever before me.
⁹ I have no need of a bull^(E) from your stall
    or of goats^(F) from your pens,^(G)
10 for every animal of the forest^(H) is mine,
    and the cattle on a thousand hills.^(I)
11 I know every bird^(J) in the mountains,
    and the insects in the fields^(K) are mine.
¹² If I were hungry I would not tell you,
    for the world^(L) is mine, and all that is in it.^(M)
13 Do I eat the flesh of bulls
    or drink the blood of goats?

¹⁴ “Sacrifice thank offerings^(N) to God,
    fulfill your vows^(O) to the Most High,^(P)
15 and call^(Q) on me in the day of trouble;^(R)
    I will deliver^(S) you, and you will honor^(T) me.”

“What right have you to recite my laws
    or take my covenant^(U) on your lips?^(V)
17 You hate^(W) my instruction
    and cast my words behind^(X) you.
¹⁸ When you see a thief, you join^(Y) with him;
    you throw in your lot with adulterers.^(Z)
19 You use your mouth for evil
    and harness your tongue to deceit.^(AA)
20 You sit and testify against your brother^(AB)
    and slander your own mother’s son.
²¹ When you did these things and I kept silent,^(AC)
    you thought I was exactly^[a] like you.
But I now arraign^(AD) you
    and set my accusations^(AE) before you.

²² “Consider this, you who forget God,^(AF)
    or I will tear you to pieces, with no one to rescue you:^(AG)
23 Those who sacrifice thank offerings honor me,
    and to the blameless^[b] I will show my salvation.^(AH)”