Isaiah 1:11-17

Living Bible

¹¹ I am sick of your sacrifices. Don’t bring me any more of them. I don’t want your fat rams; I don’t want to see the blood from your offerings. ^12-13 Who wants your sacrifices when you have no sorrow for your sins? The incense you bring me is a stench in my nostrils. Your holy celebrations of the new moon and the Sabbath, and your special days for fasting—even your most pious meetings—all are frauds! I want nothing more to do with them. ¹⁴ I hate them all; I can’t stand the sight of them. ¹⁵ From now on, when you pray with your hands stretched out to heaven, I won’t look or listen. Even though you make many prayers, I will not hear, for your hands are those of murderers; they are covered with the blood of your innocent victims.

¹⁶ Oh, wash yourselves! Be clean! Let me no longer see you doing all these wicked things; quit your evil ways. ¹⁷ Learn to do good, to be fair, and to help the poor, the fatherless, and widows.