27 The sacrifice of a wicked person is detestable—
how much more so
when he brings it with ulterior motives!(A)

Read full chapter

27 The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable(A)
    how much more so when brought with evil intent!(B)

Read full chapter

Anyone who turns his ear away from hearing the law—
even his prayer is detestable.(A)

Read full chapter

If anyone turns a deaf ear to my instruction,
    even their prayers are detestable.(A)

Read full chapter

Caution in God’s Presence

[a]Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Better to draw near in obedience than to offer the sacrifice as fools do,(A) for they ignorantly do wrong.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 5:1 Ec 4:17 in Hb

Fulfill Your Vow to God

[a]Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 5:1 In Hebrew texts 5:1 is numbered 4:17, and 5:2-20 is numbered 5:1-19.

11 “What are all your sacrifices to Me?”
asks the Lord.
“I have had enough of burnt offerings and rams
and the fat of well-fed cattle;
I have no desire for the blood of bulls,
lambs, or male goats.(A)

Read full chapter

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)

Read full chapter

20 What use to Me is frankincense from Sheba(A)
or sweet cane(B) from a distant land?
Your burnt offerings are not acceptable;
your sacrifices do not please Me.(C)

Read full chapter

20 What do I care about incense from Sheba(A)
    or sweet calamus(B) from a distant land?
Your burnt offerings are not acceptable;(C)
    your sacrifices(D) do not please me.”(E)

Read full chapter

Would the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams(A)
or with ten thousand streams of oil?
Should I give my firstborn for my transgression,(B)
the child of my body for my own sin?

Read full chapter

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)

Read full chapter