The LORD is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous.
Therefore this is what the LORD says: ‘I am about to bring upon them a disaster that they cannot escape. They will cry out to Me, but I will not listen to them.
And when you do ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may squander it on your pleasures.
When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; even though you multiply your prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood.
The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is His delight.
He will turn toward the prayer of the destitute; He will not despise their prayer.
For what is the hope of the godless when he is cut off, when God takes away his life?
Israel cries out to Me, “O our God, we know You!”
Even though you offer Me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; for your peace offerings of fattened cattle I will have no regard.
Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Draw near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong.
Whoever turns his ear away from hearing the law, even his prayer is detestable.
And when you pray, do not babble on like pagans, for they think that by their many words they will be heard.