<p class="poetry">&#8220;Of what importance to me are your many sacrifices?&#8221;<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">says the <sc>Lordsc>.p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;I am stuffed with<n id="2" /> burnt sacrificesp> <p class="poetry">of rams and the fat from steers.p> <p class="poetry">The blood of bulls, lambs, and goatsp> <p class="poetry">I do not want.<n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry">For this is what the <sc>Lordsc> says:p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;For the eunuchs who observe my Sabbathsp> <p class="poetry">and choose what pleases mep> <p class="poetry">and are faithful to<n id="1" /> my covenant,p>

<p class="poetry">In the same way, the promise that I makep> <p class="poetry">does not return to me, having accomplished nothing.<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">No, it is realized as I desirep> <p class="poetry">and is fulfilled as I intend.&#8221;<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">I predestine you to die by the sword,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">all of you will kneel down at the slaughtering block,<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">because I called to you, and you did not respond,p> <p class="poetry">I spoke and you did not listen.p> <p class="poetry">You did evil before me;<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">you chose to do what displeases me.&#8221;p>

<p class="poetry">So I will choose severe punishment<n id="1" /> for them;p> <p class="poetry">I will bring on them what they dread,p> <p class="poetry">because I called, and no one responded,p> <p class="poetry">I spoke and they did not listen.p> <p class="poetry">They did evil before me;<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">they chose to do what displeases me.&#8221;p>