Samuelsaid,"Has the LORDas much delightin burntofferingsand sacrificesAs in obeyingthe voiceof the LORD?Behold,to obeyis betterthansacrifice,[And] to heedthanthe fatof rams.
Abel,on his partalsobroughtof the firstlingsof his flockand of their fatportions.And the LORDhadregardfor Abeland for his offering;
Nowthen, ifyou will indeedobeyMy voiceand keepMy covenant,then you shall be My own possessionamongallthe peoples,for allthe earthis Mine;
To dorighteousnessand justiceIs desiredby the LORDmorethansacrifice.
Guardyour stepsas you goto the houseof Godand drawnearto listenratherthanto offerthe sacrificeof fools;for they do not knowthey are doingevil.
whichI commandedyour forefathersin the daythat I broughtthem out of the landof Egypt,from the ironfurnace,saying,Listento My voice,and doaccording to allwhichI commandyou; so you shall be My people,and I will be your God,'
For I solemnlywarnedyour fathersin the daythat I broughtthem up from the landof Egypt,even to thisday,warningpersistently,saying,"Listento My voice."
"Nowtherefore amendyour waysand your deedsand obeythe voiceof the LORDyour God;and the LORDwill changeHis mindaboutthe misfortunewhichHe has pronouncedagainstyou.
For I delightin loyaltyratherthansacrifice,And in the knowledgeof Godratherthanburntofferings.
As for My sacrificialgifts,They sacrificethe fleshand eat[it], [But] the LORDhas takennodelightin them. NowHe will remembertheir iniquity,And punish[them] for their sins;They will returnto Egypt.
"But ifyou had knownwhatthis means,I DESIRECOMPASSION,AND NOT A SACRIFICE,'you would not have condemnedthe innocent.
"Woeto you, scribesand Pharisees,hypocrites!For you tithemintand dilland cummin,and have neglectedthe weightier provisionsof the law:justiceand mercyand faithfulness;but theseare the things you shouldhave donewithoutneglectingthe others.
leaveyour offeringtherebeforethe altarand go;firstbe reconciledto your brother,and thencomeand presentyour offering.
"But goand learnwhatthis means:I DESIRECOMPASSION,AND NOT SACRIFICE,'for I did not cometo callthe righteous,but sinners."
AND TO LOVEHIM WITH ALLTHE HEARTAND WITH ALLTHE UNDERSTANDINGAND WITH ALLTHE STRENGTH,AND TO LOVEONE'S NEIGHBORAS HIMSELF,is much morethan allburnt offeringsand sacrifices."
therefore I said,'Nowthe Philistineswill comedownagainstme at Gilgal,and I have not askedthe favorof the LORD.'So I forcedmyself and offeredthe burntoffering."
Samuelsaidto Saul,"You have actedfoolishly;you have not keptthe commandmentof the LORDyour God,whichHe commandedyou, for nowthe LORDwould have establishedyour kingdomoverIsraelforever.
