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

¹⁶ You do not delight in sacrifice,^(A) or I would bring it;
    you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
¹⁷ My sacrifice,^(B) O God, is^[a] a broken spirit;
    a broken and contrite heart^(C)
    you, God, will not despise.

“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.

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

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

“What right have you to recite my laws
    or take my covenant^(S) on your lips?^(T)
17 You hate^(U) my instruction
    and cast my words behind^(V) you.

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.