“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.
²³ For rebellion is like the sin of divination,^(B)
    and arrogance like the evil of idolatry.
Because you have rejected^(C) the word of the Lord,
    he has rejected you as king.”

³ Who may ascend the mountain^(A) of the Lord?
    Who may stand in his holy place?^(B)
4 The one who has clean hands^(C) and a pure heart,^(D)
    who does not trust in an idol^(E)
    or swear by a false god.^[a]

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.”

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

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?
¹³ Stop bringing meaningless offerings!^(J)
    Your incense^(K) is detestable^(L) to me.
New Moons,^(M) Sabbaths and convocations^(N)—
    I cannot bear your worthless assemblies.
¹⁴ Your New Moon^(O) feasts and your appointed festivals^(P)
    I hate with all my being.^(Q)
They have become a burden to me;^(R)
    I am weary^(S) of bearing them.
¹⁵ When you spread out your hands^(T) in prayer,
    I hide^(U) my eyes from you;
even when you offer many prayers,
    I am not listening.^(V)

Your hands^(W) are full of blood!^(X)

¹⁶ Wash^(Y) and make yourselves clean.
    Take your evil deeds out of my sight;^(Z)
    stop doing wrong.^(AA)
17 Learn to do right;^(AB) seek justice.^(AC)
    Defend the oppressed.^[a](AD)
Take up the cause of the fatherless;^(AE)
    plead the case of the widow.^(AF)