Pay your obligations to everyone: taxes to those to whom you owe taxes, tolls to those to whom you owe tolls, respect to those to whom you owe respect, and honour to those to whom you owe honour.
You also say, “Look, what a nuisance! ” And you scorn it,’ , says the Lord of Armies. ‘You bring stolen, , lame, or sick animals. You bring this as an offering! Am I to accept that from your hands? ’ asks the Lord.
Israel has sinned. They have violated my covenant that I appointed for them. They have taken some of what was set apart. They have stolen, deceived, and put those things with their own belongings.
‘When you present a blind animal for sacrifice, is it not wrong? And when you present a lame or sick animal, is it not wrong? Bring it to your governor! Would he be pleased with you or show you favour? ’ asks the Lord of Armies.
Then he said to me, ‘This is the curse that is going out over the whole land, for everyone who is a thief, contrary to what is written on one side, has gone unpunished, and everyone who swears falsely, contrary to what is written on the other side, has gone unpunished.
You have not brought me your sheep for burnt offerings or honoured me with your sacrifices. I have not burdened you with offerings or wearied you with incense.