7. “O my people, listen as I speak.Here are my charges against you, O Israel:I am God, your God!
8. I have no complaint about your sacrificesor the burnt offerings you constantly offer.
9. But I do not need the bulls from your barnsor the goats from your pens.
10. For all the animals of the forest are mine,and I own the cattle on a thousand hills.
11. I know every bird on the mountains,and all the animals of the field are mine.
12. If I were hungry, I would not tell you,for all the world is mine and everything in it.
13. Do I eat the meat of bulls?Do I drink the blood of goats?
14. Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God,and keep the vows you made to the Most High.
15. Then call on me when you are in trouble,and I will rescue you,and you will give me glory.”
16. But God says to the wicked:“Why bother reciting my decreesand pretending to obey my covenant?
17. For you refuse my disciplineand treat my words like trash.
18. When you see thieves, you approve of them,and you spend your time with adulterers.
19. Your mouth is filled with wickedness,and your tongue is full of lies.
20. You sit around and slander your brother—your own mother’s son.
21. While you did all this, I remained silent,and you thought I didn’t care.But now I will rebuke you,listing all my charges against you.