³ To do righteousness and justice Is more acceptable to Yahweh than sacrifice.

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.

⁸ The sacrifice made by the wicked is an abomination to Yahweh, But the prayer of the upright is his delight.

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

⁶ How shall I come before Yahweh, And bow myself before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, With calves a year old?

⁷ Will Yahweh be pleased with thousands of rams? With tens of thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my disobedience? The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

⁸ He has shown you, O man, what is good. What does Yahweh require of you, but to act justly, To love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?

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

¹¹ "What are the multitude of your sacrifices to me?," says Yahweh. "I have had enough of the burnt offerings of rams, And the fat of fed animals. I don't delight in the blood of bulls, Or of lambs, Or of male goats.

¹² When you come to appear before me, Who has required this at your hand, to trample my courts?

¹³ Bring no more vain offerings. Incense is an abomination to me; New moons, Sabbaths, and convocations: I can't bear with evil assemblies.

¹⁴ My soul hates your New Moons and your appointed feasts; They are a burden to me. I am weary of bearing them.

¹⁵ When you spread forth your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; Yes, when you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood.

¹⁶ Wash yourselves, make yourself clean. Put away the evil of your doings from before my eyes; Cease to do evil.

¹⁷ Learn to do well. Seek justice, Relieve the oppressed, Judge the fatherless, Plead for the widow."

²¹ Thus says Yahweh of Hosts, the God of Israel: Add your burnt offerings to your sacrifices, and eat you flesh.

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:

²³ but this thing I commanded them, saying, Listen to my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people; and walk you in all the way that I command you, that it may be well with you.

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."