(A)To do righteousness and justice
    is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.

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To do what is right and just
    is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.(A)

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22 And Samuel said,

(A)“Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,
    as in obeying the voice of the Lord?
Behold, (B)to obey is better than sacrifice,
    and to listen than the fat of rams.

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22 But Samuel replied:

“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.

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(A)The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
    but (B)the prayer of the upright is acceptable to him.

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The Lord detests the sacrifice(A) of the wicked,(B)
    but the prayer of the upright pleases him.(C)

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What Does the Lord Require?

(A)“With what shall I come before the Lord,
    and bow myself before (B)God on high?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
    with calves a year old?
(C)Will the Lord be pleased with[a] thousands of rams,
    with ten thousands of rivers of oil?
(D)Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression,
    the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?”
He has told you, O man, what is good;
    and (E)what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,[b]
    and to (F)walk humbly with your God?

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Footnotes

  1. Micah 6:7 Or Will the Lord accept
  2. Micah 6:8 Or steadfast love

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)
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)
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)

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Footnotes

  1. Micah 6:8 Or prudently

For (A)I desire steadfast love[a] and not sacrifice,
    (B)the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

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Footnotes

  1. Hosea 6:6 Septuagint mercy

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

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33 And to love him with all the heart and with all (A)the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, (B)is much more than all (C)whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

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33 To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”(A)

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21 Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: (A)“Add your burnt offerings to your sacrifices, and eat the flesh. 22 For in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, I did not speak to your fathers or command them (B)concerning burnt offerings and sacrifices. 23 But this command I gave them: (C)‘Obey my voice, and (D)I will be your God, and you shall be my people. (E)And walk in all the way that I command you, (F)that it may be well with you.’

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21 “‘This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Go ahead, add your burnt offerings to your other sacrifices(A) and eat(B) the meat yourselves! 22 For when I brought your ancestors out of Egypt and spoke to them, I did not just give them commands(C) about burnt offerings and sacrifices,(D) 23 but I gave them this command:(E) Obey(F) me, and I will be your God and you will be my people.(G) Walk in obedience to all(H) I command you, that it may go well(I) with you.

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11 (A)“What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices?
    says the Lord;
I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams
    and the fat of well-fed beasts;
I do not delight in the blood of bulls,
    or of lambs, or of goats.

12 “When you come to (B)appear before me,
    who has required of you
    this trampling of my courts?
13 Bring no more vain offerings;
    incense is an abomination to me.
(C)New moon and Sabbath and the (D)calling of convocations—
    I cannot endure (E)iniquity and (F)solemn assembly.
14 Your (G)new moons and your appointed feasts
    my soul hates;
they have become a burden to me;
    I am weary of bearing them.
15 When you (H)spread out your hands,
    I will hide my eyes from you;
(I)even though you make many prayers,
    I will not listen;
    (J)your hands are full of blood.
16 (K)Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean;
    remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes;
(L)cease to do evil,
17     learn to do good;
(M)seek justice,
    correct oppression;
(N)bring justice to the fatherless,
    plead the widow's cause.

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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)

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 1:17 Or justice. / Correct the oppressor

Not for your sacrifices (A)do I rebuke you;
    your burnt offerings are continually before me.

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I bring no charges(A) against you concerning your sacrifices
    or concerning your burnt offerings,(B) which are ever before me.

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