7. “Listen, my people, and I will speak;I will testify against you, Israel.I am God, your God.
8. I do not reprimand you because of your sacrificesand the burnt offerings you always bring me.
9. And yet I do not need bulls from your farmsor goats from your flocks;
10. all the animals in the forest are mineand the cattle on thousands of hills.
11. All the wild birds are mineand all living things in the fields.
12. “If I were hungry, I would not ask you for food,for the world and everything in it is mine.
13. Do I eat the flesh of bullsor drink the blood of goats?
14. Let the giving of thanks be your sacrifice to God,and give the Almighty all that you promised.
15. Call to me when trouble comes;I will save you,and you will praise me.”
16. But God says to the wicked,“Why should you recite my commandments?Why should you talk about my covenant?
17. You refuse to let me correct you;you reject my commands.
18. You become the friend of every thief you seeand you associate with adulterers.
19. “You are always ready to speak evil;you never hesitate to tell lies.
20. You are ready to accuse your own relativesand to find fault with them.
21. You have done all this, and I have said nothing,so you thought that I was like you.But now I reprimand youand make the matter plain to you.