⁸ I bring no charges^(A) against you concerning your sacrifices
    or concerning your burnt offerings,^(B) which are ever before me.

“Sacrifice and offering you did not desire,
    but a body you prepared for me;^(D)
6 with burnt offerings and sin offerings
    you were not pleased.
⁷ Then I said, ‘Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll^(E)—
    I have come to do your will, my God.’”^[a](F)

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

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)

¹⁸ “Come now, let us settle the matter,”^(AC)
    says the Lord.
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
    they shall be as white as snow;^(AD)
though they are red as crimson,
    they shall be like wool.^(AE)
19 If you are willing and obedient,^(AF)
    you will eat the good things of the land;^(AG)
20 but if you resist and rebel,^(AH)
    you will be devoured by the sword.”^(AI)
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.^(AJ)

²¹ See how the faithful city
    has become a prostitute!^(AK)
She once was full of justice;
    righteousness^(AL) used to dwell in her—
    but now murderers!^(AM)
22 Your silver has become dross,^(AN)
    your choice wine is diluted with water.
²³ Your rulers are rebels,^(AO)
    partners with thieves;^(AP)
they all love bribes^(AQ)
    and chase after gifts.
They do not defend the cause of the fatherless;
    the widow’s case does not come before them.^(AR)

²⁴ Therefore the Lord, the Lord Almighty,
    the Mighty One^(AS) of Israel, declares:
“Ah! I will vent my wrath on my foes
    and avenge^(AT) myself on my enemies.^(AU)
25 I will turn my hand against you;^[b](AV)
    I will thoroughly purge^(AW) away your dross^(AX)
    and remove all your impurities.^(AY)
26 I will restore your leaders as in days of old,^(AZ)
    your rulers as at the beginning.
Afterward you will be called^(BA)
    the City of Righteousness,^(BB)
    the Faithful City.^(BC)”

²⁷ Zion will be delivered with justice,
    her penitent^(BD) ones with righteousness.^(BE)
28 But rebels and sinners^(BF) will both be broken,
    and those who forsake^(BG) the Lord will perish.^(BH)

²⁹ “You will be ashamed^(BI) because of the sacred oaks^(BJ)
    in which you have delighted;
you will be disgraced because of the gardens^(BK)
    that you have chosen.
³⁰ You will be like an oak with fading leaves,^(BL)
    like a garden without water.
³¹ The mighty man will become tinder
    and his work a spark;
both will burn together,
    with no one to quench the fire.^(BM)”