What God Requires of Mankind

(A)With what shall I come to the Lord
And bow myself before the God on high?
Shall I come to Him with (B)burnt offerings,
With yearling calves?
Does the Lord take pleasure in (C)thousands of rams,
In ten thousand rivers of [a]oil?
Shall I give Him my (D)firstborn for my wrongdoings,
The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
He has (E)told you, mortal one, what is good;
And (F)what does the Lord require of you
But to (G)do justice, to (H)love [b]kindness,
And to walk [c](I)humbly with your God?

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Footnotes

  1. Micah 6:7 I.e., olive oil
  2. Micah 6:8 Or loyalty
  3. Micah 6:8 Or circumspectly

What can we bring to the Lord?
    Should we bring him burnt offerings?
Should we bow before God Most High
    with offerings of yearling calves?
Should we offer him thousands of rams
    and ten thousand rivers of olive oil?
Should we sacrifice our firstborn children
    to pay for our sins?

No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good,
    and this is what he requires of you:
to do what is right, to love mercy,
    and to walk humbly with your God.

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