For I desire faithful love and not sacrifice,
the knowledge of God(A) rather than burnt offerings.(B)

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

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For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

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What should I bring before the Lord(A)
when I come to bow before God on high?
Should I come before him with burnt offerings,(B)
with year-old calves?
Would the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams(C)
or with ten thousand streams of oil?
Should I give my firstborn for my transgression,(D)
the offspring of my body for my own sin?

Mankind, he has told each of you what is good(E)
and what it is the Lord requires of you:(F)
to act justly,(G)
to love faithfulness,(H)
and to walk humbly with your God.(I)

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With what shall I come before(A) the Lord
    and bow down before the exalted God?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
    with calves a year old?(B)
Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,(C)
    with ten thousand rivers of olive oil?(D)
Shall I offer my firstborn(E) for my transgression,
    the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?(F)
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
    And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly(G) and to love mercy
    and to walk humbly[a](H) with your God.(I)

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Footnotes

  1. Micah 6:8 Or prudently

Wherewith shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old?

Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

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If you had known what this means, I desire mercy and not sacrifice,[a](A) you would not have condemned the innocent.

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Footnotes

  1. 12:7 Hs 6:6

If you had known what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’[a](A) you would not have condemned the innocent.

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 12:7 Hosea 6:6

But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.

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