⁹ I will take no ox out of your house, or he-goats from your flocks;

³¹ This will be more pleasing to the Lord than an ox, or a young ox of full growth.

²³ You have not made me burned offerings of sheep, or given me honour with your offerings of beasts; I did not make you servants to give me an offering, and I did not make you tired with requests for perfumes.

²⁴ You have not got me sweet-smelling plants with your money, or given me pleasure with the fat of your offerings: but you have made me a servant to your sins, and you have made me tired with your evil doings.

⁶ With what am I to come before the Lord and go with bent head before the high God? am I to come before him with burned offerings, with young oxen a year old?

⁷ Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of sheep or with ten thousand rivers of oil? am I to give my first child for my wrongdoing, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

⁸ He has made clear to you, O man, what is good; and what is desired from you by the Lord; only doing what is right, and loving mercy, and walking without pride before your God.

²⁵ And he is not dependent on the work of men's hands, as if he had need of anything, for he himself gives to all life and breath and all things;

⁴ Because it is not possible for the blood of oxen and goats to take away sins.

⁵ So that when he comes into the world, he says, You had no desire for offerings, but you made a body ready for me;

⁶ You had no joy in burned offerings or in offerings for sin.