Does the LORDtakedelightin thousandsof rams,In tenthousandriversof oil?Shall I presentmy firstborn[for] my rebelliousacts,The fruitof my bodyfor the sinof my soul?
But he walkedin the wayof the kingsof Israel,and evenmade his sonpassthrough the fire,according to the abominationsof the nationswhomthe LORDhad drivenout from beforethe sonsof Israel.
He made his sonpassthrough the fire,practicedwitchcraftand useddivination,and dealtwith mediumsand spiritists.He didmuchevilin the sightof the LORDprovoking[Him to anger].
He also defiledTopheth,whichis in the valleyof the sonof Hinnom,that nomanmight make his sonor his daughterpassthrough the firefor Molech.
Then he tookhis oldestsonwhowas to reignin his place,and offeredhim as a burntofferingon the wall.And there camegreatwrathagainstIsrael,and they departedfrom him and returnedto their own land.
When my stepswere bathedin butter,And the rockpouredout for me streamsof oil!
"I shall takenoyoungbullout of your houseNor malegoatsout of your folds.
For You do not delightin sacrifice,otherwise I would giveit; You are not pleasedwith burntoffering.
By Your favordogoodto Zion;Buildthe wallsof Jerusalem.
The sacrificeof the wickedis an abominationto the LORD,But the prayerof the uprightis His delight.
To dorighteousnessand justiceIs desiredby the LORDmorethansacrifice.
The visionof Isaiahthe sonof AmozconcerningJudahand Jerusalem,whichhe sawduring the reignsof Uzziah,Jotham,Ahaz[and] Hezekiah,kingsof Judah.
Even Lebanonis not enoughto burn,Norits beastsenoughfor a burntoffering.
and have builtthe highplacesof Baalto burntheir sonsin the fireas burntofferingsto Baal,a thing whichI nevercommandedor spokeof, nordid it [ever] enterMy mind;
"For whatpurposedoes frankincensecometo Me from ShebaAnd the sweetcanefrom a distantland?Your burntofferingsare not acceptableAnd your sacrificesare not pleasingto Me."
"They have builtthe highplacesof Topheth,whichis in the valleyof the sonof Hinnom,to burntheir sonsand their daughtersin the fire,whichI did not command,and it did not comeinto My mind.
"For they have committedadultery,and bloodis on their hands.Thus they have committedadulterywith their idolsand evencaused their sons,whomthey boreto Me, to passthrough[the fire] to them as food.
They will gowith their flocksand herdsTo seekthe LORD,but they will not find[Him]; He has withdrawnfrom them.
For I delightin loyaltyratherthansacrifice,And in the knowledgeof Godratherthanburntofferings.
You shall not giveanyof your offspringto offerthem to Molech,norshall you profanethe nameof your God;I am the LORD.
Then the LORDspoketo Moses,saying,
"Eventhoughyou offerup to Me burntofferingsand your grain offerings,I will not accept[them]; And I will not [even] lookat the peaceofferingsof your fatlings.
I have sent him backto you in person,that is, [sending] my very heart,
then it shall be that whatevercomesout of the doorsof my houseto meetme when I returnin peacefrom the sonsof Ammon,it shall be the LORD'S,and I will offerit up as a burntoffering."
At the endof twomonthsshe returnedto her father,who didto her according to the vowwhichhe had made;and she hadnorelationswith a man.Thus it becamea customin Israel,
Samuelsaid,"Has the LORDas much delightin burntofferingsand sacrificesAs in obeyingthe voiceof the LORD?Behold,to obeyis betterthansacrifice,[And] to heedthanthe fatof rams.
