7. ‘Listen, my people, and I will speak;I will testify against you, Israel:I am God, your God.
8. I bring no charges against you concerning your sacrificesor concerning your burnt offerings, which are ever before me.
9. I have no need of a bull from your stallor of goats from your pens,
10. for every animal of the forest is mine,and the cattle on a thousand hills.
11. I know every bird in the mountains,and the insects in the fields are mine.
12. If I were hungry I would not tell you,for the world is mine, and all that is in it.
13. Do I eat the flesh of bullsor drink the blood of goats?
14. ‘Sacrifice thank-offerings to God,fulfil your vows to the Most High,
15. and call on me in the day of trouble;I will deliver you, and you will honour me.’
16. But to the wicked person, God says:‘What right have you to recite my lawsor take my covenant on your lips?
17. You hate my instructionand cast my words behind you.
18. When you see a thief, you join with him;you throw in your lot with adulterers.
19. You use your mouth for eviland harness your tongue to deceit.