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

⁶ With what shall I come before^(A) the Lord
    and bow down before the exalted God?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
    with calves a year old?^(B)
7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,^(C)
    with ten thousand rivers of olive oil?^(D)
Shall I offer my firstborn^(E) for my transgression,
    the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?^(F)
8 He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
    And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly^(G) and to love mercy
    and to walk humbly^[a](H) with your God.^(I)

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;^(A)
I have no pleasure^(B)
    in the blood of bulls^(C) and lambs and goats.^(D)
12 When you come to appear before me,
    who has asked this of you,^(E)
    this trampling of my courts?
¹³ Stop bringing meaningless offerings!^(F)
    Your incense^(G) is detestable^(H) to me.
New Moons,^(I) Sabbaths and convocations^(J)—
    I cannot bear your worthless assemblies.
¹⁴ Your New Moon^(K) feasts and your appointed festivals^(L)
    I hate with all my being.^(M)
They have become a burden to me;^(N)
    I am weary^(O) of bearing them.
¹⁵ When you spread out your hands^(P) in prayer,
    I hide^(Q) my eyes from you;
even when you offer many prayers,
    I am not listening.^(R)

Your hands^(S) are full of blood!^(T)

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

¹⁵ Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent^(A)—
    the Lord detests them both.^(B)

²¹ The wicked band together^(A) against the righteous
    and condemn the innocent^(B) to death.^(C)