6. What worthy thing might I offer to the Lord, as I bend the knee before God on high? How could I offer holocausts to him, and one year-old calves?
7. Would the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, or with many thousands of fat he-goats? How could I give up my firstborn because of my evil deed, the fruit of my womb because of the sin of my soul?
8. I will reveal to you, O man, what is good, and what the Lord requires from you, and how to act with judgment, and to love mercy, and to walk carefully with your God.
9. The voice of the Lord cries out to the city, "Listen, you tribes," and who will confirm it? And salvation will be for those who fear your name.
10. Nevertheless, there is a fire in the house of the impious, the treasury of iniquity, and a small measure, filled with wrath.
11. Shall I justify unfaithful balances, and the deceitful weighing of a small bag?
12. By this, her wealthy have been filled with iniquity, and her inhabitants have spoken lies, and their tongue was deceitful in their mouth.
13. And I, therefore, began to strike you with perdition because of your sins.