Isaiah 1:11-17

11The Lord says, ‘All your sacrifices are not important to me. I have received too many sacrifices that you have burned as gifts to me. I have received too many sheep and fat animals. I do not want any more blood from bulls, goats and lambs that you have offered to me as sacrifices. They do not give me any pleasure.

12You come to worship me in my temple. But are you doing what I want? Did I ask you to march round the temple yards with all your animals?

13Do not bring any more useless gifts to offer to me! I do not like your incense. You like to have feasts at new moons, or on Sabbath days. But because of your sins, I hate all your holy meetings.

14I hate your new moon feasts and your holy meetings. They have become like a heavy load for me. I cannot carry it any longer!

15When you lift up your hands to pray to me, I have to look away. Even if you pray very many times to me, I do not listen to you, because your hands are full of blood.

16Wash yourselves and make yourselves clean! Remove your sins, so that I no longer see them. Stop doing evil things!

17Instead, learn to do what is right. Be honest and fair in what you do. Help people who are in pain. Make sure that widows and children who have no family receive justice.’