For I delightin loyaltyratherthansacrifice,And in the knowledgeof Godratherthanburntofferings.
"As for you, my sonSolomon,knowthe Godof your father,and serveHim with a wholeheartand a willingmind;for the LORDsearchesallhearts,and understandseveryintentof the thoughts.Ifyou seekHim, He will let you findHim; but ifyou forsakeHim, He will rejectyou forever.
"I do not reproveyou for your sacrifices,And your burntofferingsare continuallybeforeMe.
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.
"Whatare your multipliedsacrificesto Me?" Saysthe LORD."I have hadenoughof burntofferingsof ramsAnd the fatof fedcattle;And I takenopleasurein the bloodof bulls,lambsor goats.
"Is thisnot the fastwhich I choose,To loosenthe bondsof wickedness,To undothe bandsof the yoke,And to letthe oppressedgofreeAnd breakeveryyoke?
"He pledthe causeof the afflictedand needy;Thenit was well.Is not that what it means to knowMe?" Declaresthe LORD.
"For I did not speakto your fathers,or commandthem in the daythat I broughtthem out of the landof Egypt,concerningburntofferingsand sacrifices.
Therefore,O king,may my advicebe pleasingto you: breakawaynow from your sinsby [doing] righteousnessand from your iniquitiesby showingmercyto [the] poor,in casethere may be a prolongingof your prosperity.'
Takewordswith you and returnto the LORD.Sayto Him, "Takeaway alliniquityAnd receive[us] graciously,That we may presentthe fruitof our lips.
And I will betrothyou to Me in faithfulness.Then you will knowthe LORD.
Listento the wordof the LORD,O sonsof Israel,For the LORDhas a caseagainstthe inhabitantsof the land,Becausethereis nofaithfulnessor kindnessOr knowledgeof Godin the land.
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.
"I hate,I rejectyour festivals,Nordo I delightin your solemnassemblies.
With whatshall I cometo the LORD[And] bowmyself before the Godon high?Shall I cometo Him with burntofferings,With yearlingcalves?
He has toldyou, O man,whatis good;And whatdoes the LORDrequireof you But to dojustice,to lovekindness,And to walkhumblywith your God?
"But ifyou had knownwhatthis means,I DESIRECOMPASSION,AND NOT A SACRIFICE,'you would not have condemnedthe innocent.
"Blessedare the merciful,for they shall receive mercy.
"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."
For allthe peoplewho cameout were circumcised,but allthe peoplewho were bornin the wildernessalong the wayas they cameout of Egypthad not been circumcised.
By thiswe knowthat we have come to knowHim, ifwe keepHis commandments.
Noonewho abidesin Him sins;noonewho sinshas seenHim orknowsHim.
Samuelsaid,"Has the LORDas much delightin burntofferingsand sacrificesAs in obeyingthe voiceof the LORD?Behold,to obeyis betterthansacrifice,[And] to heedthanthe fatof rams.
