The Lord hates the offerings that evil people give. But the Lord is happy to hear a good person’s prayers.
Haggai 2:14 - Easy To Read Version Then Haggai said, “The Lord God says these things, ‘That is also true about the people of this nation! They were not pure and holy before me. So anything they touched with their hands and anything they brought \{to the altar\} became unclean! {\cf2\super [9]} Tuilleadh leaganachaKing James Version (Oxford) 1769 Then answered Haggai, and said, So is this people, and so is this nation before me, saith the LORD; and so is every work of their hands; and that which they offer there is unclean. Amplified Bible - Classic Edition Then answered Haggai, So is this people and so is this nation before Me, says the Lord; and so is every work of their hands, and what they offer there [on the altar] is unclean [because they who offer it are themselves unclean]. American Standard Version (1901) Then answered Haggai and said, So is this people, and so is this nation before me, saith Jehovah; and so is every work of their hands; and that which they offer there is unclean. Common English Bible Then Haggai responded: Thus has this people and this nation become to me, says the LORD, and everything that they do with their hands. Whatever they offer is unclean. Catholic Public Domain Version And Haggai said, "If the polluted in soul will have touched any of all these things, shall it be contaminated?" And the priests responded and said, "It shall be contaminated." Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version And Aggeus said: If one that is unclean by occasion of a soul touch any of all these things, shall it be defiled? And the priests answered, and said: It shall be defiled. |
The Lord hates the offerings that evil people give. But the Lord is happy to hear a good person’s prayers.
The Lord is not happy when evil people offer him sacrifices, especially when those evil people are trying to get something from him.
If a person refuses to listen to \{God’s\} teachings, then \{God\} will refuse to hear his prayers.
Some people kill bulls \{as a sacrifice\},\par but they also beat people.\par Those people kill sheep as a sacrifice,\par but they also break the necks of dogs!\par Those people offer up grain offerings,\par but they also offer the blood of pigs! {\cf2\super [475]} \par Those people burn incense, {\cf2\super [476]} \par but they also love their worthless idols. {\cf2\super [477]} \par Those people choose their own ways.\par And they also love their terrible idols.\par
The Israelites will not give offerings of wine to the Lord. They will not offer sacrifices to him. Their sacrifices will be like food eaten at a funeral {\cf2\super [87]} —whoever eats it will become unclean. Their bread will not go into the Lord’s temple—they will have to eat that bread by themselves.
To people that are pure, all things are pure. But to people who are full of sin and don’t believe, nothing is pure. Really, those people’s thinking has become evil and their knowledge of what is right has been ruined.