³ Our God approaches,
    but not silently;
a flaming fire comes first,
    and a storm surrounds him.
⁴ God comes to judge his people.
He shouts to the heavens
    and to the earth,
⁵ “Call my followers together!
They offered me a sacrifice,
    and we made an agreement.”

⁶ The heavens announce,
“God is the judge,
    and he is always honest.”

⁷ My people, I am God!
    Israel, I am your God.
Listen to my charges
    against you.
⁸ Although you offer sacrifices
    and always bring gifts,
⁹ I won't accept your offerings
    of bulls and goats.

¹⁰ Every animal in the forest
    belongs to me,
and so do the cattle
    on a thousand hills.
¹¹ I know all the birds
    in the mountains,
and every wild creature
    is in my care.

¹² If I were hungry,
    I wouldn't tell you,
because I own the world
    and everything in it.
¹³ I don't eat the meat of bulls
    or drink the blood of goats.
¹⁴ I am God Most High!
    The only sacrifice I want
is for you to be thankful
    and to keep your word.
¹⁵ Pray to me in time of trouble.
I will rescue you,
    and you will honor me.

¹⁶ But to the wicked I say:
    “You don't have the right
to mention my laws or claim
    to keep our agreement!
¹⁷ You refused correction
    and rejected my commands.
¹⁸ You made friends
    with every crook you met,
and you liked people who break
    their wedding vows.
¹⁹ You talked only about violence
    and told nothing but lies;
²⁰ you sat around gossiping,
ruining the reputation
    of your own relatives.”

²¹ When you did all this,
I didn't say a word,
    and you thought,
“God is just like us!”
    But now I will accuse you.
²² You have ignored me!
    So pay close attention
or I will tear you apart,
    and no one can help you.

²³ The sacrifice that honors me
    is a thankful heart.
Obey me,^[a] and I, your God,
    will show my power to save.