"You also say,My, howtiresomeit is!' And you disdainfullysniffat it," saysthe LORDof hosts,"and you bringwhat was takenby robberyand [what is] lameor sick;so you bringthe offering!Should I receivethat from your hand?"saysthe LORD.
However, the kingsaidto Araunah,"No,but I will surelybuy[it] from you for a price,for I will not offerburntofferingsto the LORDmy Godwhichcostme nothing."So Davidboughtthe threshingfloorand the oxenfor fiftyshekelsof silver.
"Whenyou cometo appearbeforeMe, Whorequiresof you thistramplingof My courts?
"Among the smooth[stones] of the ravineIs your portion,they are your lot;Evento them you have pouredout a drinkoffering,You have madea grain offering.Shall I relentconcerningthesethings?
For I, the LORD,lovejustice,I haterobberyin the burntoffering;And I will faithfullygivethem their recompenseAnd makean everlastingcovenantwith them.
But I said,"Ah,LordGOD!Behold,I have neverbeendefiled;for from my youthuntilnowI have nevereatenwhatdiedof itself or was tornby beasts,norhas any uncleanmeatever enteredmy mouth."
"The priestsshall not eatanybirdor beastthat has dieda naturaldeathor has been tornto pieces.
[It is] your destruction,O Israel,That [you are] against Me, against your help.
He shall not eat[an animal] whichdiesor is torn[by beasts], becominguncleanby it; I am the LORD.
then it shall be, whenhe sinsand becomesguilty,that he shall restorewhathe tookby robberyorwhathe gotby extortion,orthe depositwhichwas entrustedto him orthe lostthingwhichhe found,
saying,"Whenwill the newmoonbe over,So that we may sellgrain,And the sabbath,that we may openthe wheat[market], To makethe bushelsmallerand the shekelbigger,And to cheatwith dishonestscales,
"My people,whathave I doneto you, And howhave I weariedyou? AnswerMe.
"Ohthat there were one among you who would shutthe gates,that you might not uselesslykindle[fire on] My altar!I am not pleasedwith you," saysthe LORDof hosts,"norwill I acceptan offeringfrom you.
"[As] for the manwhodoesthis, may the LORDcutofffrom the tentsof Jacob[everyone] who awakesand answers,or who presentsan offeringto the LORDof hosts.
"Thisis anotherthingyou do:you coverthe altarof the LORDwith tears,with weepingand with groaning,becauseHe nolongerregardsthe offeringor accepts[it with] favorfrom your hand.
"Wheneveryou fast,do not puton a gloomy faceas the hypocrites[do], for they neglecttheir appearancesothat they will be noticedby menwhen they are fasting.TrulyI sayto you, they havetheir rewardin full.
"Whenyou pray,you are not to be likethe hypocrites;for they loveto standand prayin the synagoguesand on the streetcornerssothat they may be seenby men.TrulyI sayto you, they havetheir rewardin full.
"But ifit hasany defect,[such as] lamenessorblindness,[or] anyseriousdefect,you shall not sacrificeit to the LORDyour God.
Whydo you kickat My sacrificeand at My offeringwhichI have commanded[in My] dwelling,and honoryour sonsaboveMe, by makingyourselves fatwith the choicestof everyofferingof My peopleIsrael?'
