“Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
    as much as in obeying the Lord?
To obey is better than sacrifice,^(A)
    and to heed is better than the fat of rams.

⁸ The Lord detests the sacrifice^(A) of the wicked,^(B)
    but the prayer of the upright pleases him.^(C)

¹¹ “The multitude of your sacrifices—
    what are they to me?” says the Lord.
“I have more than enough of burnt offerings,
    of rams and the fat of fattened animals;^(A)
I have no pleasure^(B)
    in the blood of bulls^(C) and lambs and goats.^(D)

¹⁶ Wash^(A) and make yourselves clean.
    Take your evil deeds out of my sight;^(B)
    stop doing wrong.^(C)

¹⁷ Learn to do right;^(A) seek justice.^(B)
    Defend the oppressed.^[a](C)
Take up the cause of the fatherless;^(D)
    plead the case of the widow.^(E)

⁶ For I desire mercy, not sacrifice,^(A)
    and acknowledgment^(B) of God rather than burnt offerings.^(C)

⁷ Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,^(A)
    with ten thousand rivers of olive oil?^(B)
Shall I offer my firstborn^(C) for my transgression,
    the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?^(D)

⁸ He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
    And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly^(A) and to love mercy
    and to walk humbly^[a](B) with your God.^(C)