"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.
To dorighteousnessand justiceIs desiredby the LORDmorethansacrifice.
Does he not levelits surfaceAnd sowdilland scattercumminAnd plantwheatin rows,Barleyin its placeand ryewithin its area?
Thussaysthe LORD,"Dojusticeand righteousness,and deliverthe one who has been robbedfrom the powerof [his] oppressor.Also do not mistreat[or] doviolenceto the stranger,the orphan,or the widow;and do not shedinnocentbloodin thisplace.
For I delightin loyaltyratherthansacrifice,And in the knowledgeof Godratherthanburntofferings.
Thus allthe titheof the land,of the seedof the landor of the fruitof the tree,is the LORD'S;it is holyto the LORD.
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.
"But woeto you, scribesand Pharisees,hypocrites,becauseyou shutoff the kingdomof heavenfrom people;for you do not enterin yourselves,nordo you allowthosewho are enteringto goin.
"But goand learnwhatthis means:I DESIRECOMPASSION,AND NOT SACRIFICE,'for I did not cometo callthe righteous,but sinners."
"But woeto you Pharisees!For you pay titheof mintand rueand every[kind of] garden herb,and [yet] disregardjusticeand the loveof God;but these are the thingsyou shouldhave donewithoutneglectingthe others.
I fasttwicea week;I pay tithesof allthat I get.'
Samuelsaid,"Has the LORDas much delightin burntofferingsand sacrificesAs in obeyingthe voiceof the LORD?Behold,to obeyis betterthansacrifice,[And] to heedthanthe fatof rams.
