⁷ Will thousands of sheep
or rivers of olive oil
    make God satisfied with me?
Should I sacrifice to the Lord
my first-born child as payment
    for my terrible sins?
⁸ The Lord God has told us
what is right
    and what he demands:
“See that justice is done,
let mercy be your first concern,
    and humbly obey your God.”

⁹ I am the Lord,
and you are wise to respect
    my power to punish.
So listen to my message
    for the city of Jerusalem:^[a]