²² For I didn't speak to your fathers, nor command them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices:

⁶ For I desire mercy, and not sacrifice; And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

²² Samuel said, Has Yahweh as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of Yahweh? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.

⁶ Sacrifice and offering you didn't desire. You have opened my ears: Burnt offering and sin offering you have not required.

⁸ I don't rebuke you for your sacrifices. Your burnt offerings are continually before me.

⁹ I have no need for a bull from your stall, Nor male goats from your pens.

¹⁰ For every animal of the forest is mine, And the cattle on a thousand hills.

¹¹ I know all the birds of the mountains. The wild animals of the field are mine.

¹² If I were hungry, I would not tell you, For the world is mine, and all that is in it.

¹³ Will I eat the flesh of bulls, Or drink the blood of goats?

¹⁴ Offer to God the sacrifice of thanksgiving. Pay your vows to the Most High.

¹⁵ Call on me in the day of trouble. I will deliver you, and you will honor me."

¹⁶ But to the wicked God says, "What right do you have to declare my statutes, That you have taken my covenant on your lips,

¹⁷ Seeing you hate instruction, And throw my words behind you?

¹⁶ For you don't delight in sacrifice, or else I would give it. You have no pleasure in burnt offering.

¹⁷ The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit. A broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

¹³ But you go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,' for I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

³³ and to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices."