“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.

²² Even though you bring me burnt offerings^(A) and grain offerings,
    I will not accept them.^(B)
Though you bring choice fellowship offerings,
    I will have no regard for them.^(C)
23 Away with the noise of your songs!
    I will not listen to the music of your harps.^(D)
24 But let justice^(E) roll on like a river,
    righteousness^(F) like a never-failing stream!^(G)

⁶ 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)
7 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)
8 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)