Proverbs 21:3

Modern

To do righteousness and justice is more desirable to the LORD than sacrifice.

Traditional

To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.

Literal

To do righteousness and justice is chosen of YHWH above sacrifice.

Latin

Facere misericordiam et judicium magis placet Domino quam victimæ.

Hebrew

English

To do righteousness and justice is more desirable to the LORD than sacrifice.

God wants worship to come from a sincere heart and lead to good actions (see Psalm 40:6–8; Micah 6:6–8).

Theme notes and profiles

1 Samuel 15:22
But Samuel declared: “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obedience to His voice? Behold, obedience is better than sacrifice, and attentiveness is better than the fat of rams.
Hosea 6:6
For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.
Proverbs 15:8
The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is His delight.
Micah 6:6–8
With what shall I come before the LORD when I bow before the God on high? Should I come to Him with burnt offerings, with year-old calves?
Mark 12:33
…and to love Him with all your heart and with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself. This is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
Jeremiah 7:21–23
This is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: Add your burnt offerings to your other sacrifices and eat the meat yourselves!
Isaiah 1:11–17
“What good to Me is your multitude of sacrifices?” says the LORD. “I am full from the burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed cattle; I take no delight in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats.
Psalm 50:8
I do not rebuke you for your sacrifices, and your burnt offerings are ever before Me.