The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
Amos 5:22 - Christian Standard Bible Anglicised Even if you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; I will have no regard for your fellowship offerings of fattened cattle. Tuilleadh leaganachaKing James Version (Oxford) 1769 Though ye offer me burnt offerings and your meat offerings, I will not accept them: neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts. Amplified Bible - Classic Edition Though you offer Me your burnt offerings and your cereal offerings, I will not accept them, neither will I look upon the peace or thank offerings of your fatted beasts. American Standard Version (1901) Yea, though ye offer me your burnt-offerings and meal-offerings, I will not accept them; neither will I regard the peace-offerings of your fat beasts. Common English Bible If you bring me your entirely burned offerings and gifts of food— I won’t be pleased; I won’t even look at your offerings of well-fed animals. Catholic Public Domain Version For if you offer me holocausts and your gifts, I will not receive them; and I will not look upon the vows of your fatness. Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version And if you offer me holocausts, and your gifts, I will not receive them: neither will I regard the vows of your fat beasts. |
The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
The sacrifice of a wicked person is detestable – how much more so when he brings it with ulterior motives!
‘What are all your sacrifices to me? ’ asks the Lord. ‘I have had enough of burnt offerings and rams and the fat of well-fed cattle; I have no desire for the blood of bulls, lambs, or male goats.
One person slaughters an ox, another kills a person; one person sacrifices a lamb, another breaks a dog’s neck; one person offers a grain offering, another offers pig’s blood; one person offers incense, another praises an idol – all these have chosen their ways and delight in their abhorrent practices.
This is what the Lord says concerning these people: Truly they love to wander; they never rest their feet. So the Lord does not accept them. Now he will remember their iniquity and punish their sins.
What use to me is frankincense from Sheba or sweet cane from a distant land? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable; your sacrifices do not please me.
This is what the Lord of Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘Add your burnt offerings to your other sacrifices, and eat the meat yourselves,
‘Now this is the law of the fellowship sacrifice that someone may present to the Lord:
Take away from me the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps.
‘And now plead for God’s favour. Will he be gracious to us? Since this has come from your hands, will he show any of you favour? ’ asks the Lord of Armies.
Then Samuel said: Does the Lord take pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? Look: to obey is better than sacrifice, to pay attention is better than the fat of rams.