Proverbs 21:3
To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
Additional Resources
Referenced Verses
- 1 Sam 15:22 : 22 Then Samuel said,“Does the LORD take pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as he does in obedience? Certainly, obedience is better than sacrifice; paying attention is better than the fat of rams.
- Prov 15:8 : 8 The LORD abhors the sacrifice of the wicked, but the prayer of the upright pleases him.
- Hos 6:6 : 6 For I delight in faithfulness, not simply in sacrifice; I delight in acknowledging God, not simply in whole burnt offerings.
- Mic 6:6-8 : 6 With what should I enter the LORD’s presence? With what should I bow before the sovereign God? Should I enter his presence with burnt offerings, with year-old calves? 7 Will the LORD accept a thousand rams, or ten thousand streams of olive oil? Should I give him my firstborn child as payment for my rebellion, my offspring– my own flesh and blood– for my sin? 8 He has told you, O man, what is good, and what the LORD really wants from you: He wants you to carry out justice, to love faithfulness, and to live obediently before your God.
- Mark 12:33 : 33 And to love him with all your heart, with all your mind, and with all your strength and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
- Isa 1:11-17 : 11 “Of what importance to me are your many sacrifices?” says the LORD.“I have had my fill of burnt sacrifices of rams and the fat from steers. The blood of bulls, lambs, and goats I do not want. 12 When you enter my presence, do you actually think I want this– animals trampling on my courtyards? 13 Do not bring any more meaningless offerings; I consider your incense detestable! You observe new moon festivals, Sabbaths, and convocations, but I cannot tolerate sin-stained celebrations! 14 I hate your new moon festivals and assemblies; they are a burden that I am tired of carrying. 15 When you spread out your hands in prayer, I look the other way; when you offer your many prayers, I do not listen, because your hands are covered with blood. 16 Wash! Cleanse yourselves! Remove your sinful deeds from my sight. Stop sinning! 17 Learn to do what is right! Promote justice! Give the oppressed reason to celebrate! Take up the cause of the orphan! Defend the rights of the widow!
- Jer 7:21-23 : 21 “The LORD of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel says to the people of Judah:‘You might as well go ahead and add the meat of your burnt offerings to that of the other sacrifices and eat it, too! 22 Consider this: When I spoke to your ancestors after I brought them out of Egypt, I did not merely give them commands about burnt offerings and sacrifices. 23 I also explicitly commanded them:“Obey me. If you do, I will be your God and you will be my people. Live exactly the way I tell you and things will go well with you.”
- Ps 50:8 : 8 I am not condemning you because of your sacrifices, or because of your burnt sacrifices that you continually offer me.
Similar Verses (AI)
These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.
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2 All of a person’s ways seem right in his own opinion, but the LORD evaluates his thoughts.
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22 Then Samuel said,“Does the LORD take pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as he does in obedience? Certainly, obedience is better than sacrifice; paying attention is better than the fat of rams.
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27 The wicked person’s sacrifice is an abomination; how much more when he brings it with evil intent!
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6 For I delight in faithfulness, not simply in sacrifice; I delight in acknowledging God, not simply in whole burnt offerings.
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1 The LORD abhors dishonest scales, but an accurate weight is his delight.
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31 That will please the LORD more than an ox or a bull with horns and hooves.
- Prov 15:8-92 verses72%
8 The LORD abhors the sacrifice of the wicked, but the prayer of the upright pleases him.
9 The LORD abhors the way of the wicked, but he will love those who pursue righteousness.
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5 Offer the prescribed sacrifices and trust in the LORD!
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15 Doing justice brings joy to the righteous and terror to those who do evil.
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17 Learn to do what is right! Promote justice! Give the oppressed reason to celebrate! Take up the cause of the orphan! Defend the rights of the widow!
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8 Better to have a little with righteousness than to have abundant income without justice.
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8 For when you offer blind animals as a sacrifice, is that not wrong? And when you offer the lame and sick, is that not wrong as well? Indeed, try offering them to your governor! Will he be pleased with you or show you favor?” asks the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.
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3 The one who slaughters a bull also strikes down a man; the one who sacrifices a lamb also breaks a dog’s neck; the one who presents an offering includes pig’s blood with it; the one who offers incense also praises an idol. They have decided to behave this way; they enjoy these disgusting practices.
- Ps 51:16-172 verses71%
16 Certainly you do not want a sacrifice, or else I would offer it; you do not desire a burnt sacrifice.
17 The sacrifices God desires are a humble spirit– O God, a humble and repentant heart you will not reject.
- Jer 22:16-172 verses71%
16 He upheld the cause of the poor and needy. So things went well for Judah.’ The LORD says,‘That is a good example of what it means to know me.’
17 But you are always thinking and looking for ways to increase your wealth by dishonest means. Your eyes and your heart are set on killing some innocent person and committing fraud and oppression.
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3 How blessed are those who promote justice, and do what is right all the time!
- Isa 1:11-122 verses71%
11 “Of what importance to me are your many sacrifices?” says the LORD.“I have had my fill of burnt sacrifices of rams and the fat from steers. The blood of bulls, lambs, and goats I do not want.
12 When you enter my presence, do you actually think I want this– animals trampling on my courtyards?
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1 The Lord Invites Outsiders to Enter This is what the LORD says,“Promote justice! Do what is right! For I am ready to deliver you; I am ready to vindicate you openly.
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5 “Suppose a man is righteous. He practices what is just and right,
- Lam 3:35-362 verses70%
35 to deprive a person of his rights in the presence of the Most High,
36 to defraud a person in a lawsuit– the Lord does not approve of such things!
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19 Then you will accept the proper sacrifices, burnt sacrifices and whole offerings; then bulls will be sacrificed on your altar.
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6 He told the judges,“Be careful what you do, for you are not judging for men, but for the LORD, who will be with you when you make judicial decisions.
- Ps 7:8-92 verses70%
8 The LORD judges the nations. Vindicate me, LORD, because I am innocent, because I am blameless, O Exalted One!
9 May the evil deeds of the wicked come to an end! But make the innocent secure, O righteous God, you who examine inner thoughts and motives!
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5 It is terrible to show partiality to the wicked, by depriving a righteous man of justice.
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5 You must change the way you have been living and do what is right. You must treat one another fairly.
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3 The LORD says,“Do what is just and right. Deliver those who have been robbed from those who oppress them. Do not exploit or mistreat resident foreigners who live in your land, children who have no fathers, or widows. Do not kill innocent people in this land.
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15 The one who acquits the guilty and the one who condemns the innocent– both of them are an abomination to the LORD.
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4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart– what the wicked cultivate is sin.
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8 He has told you, O man, what is good, and what the LORD really wants from you: He wants you to carry out justice, to love faithfulness, and to live obediently before your God.
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21 The LORD wanted to exhibit his justice by magnifying his law and displaying it.
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5 He promotes equity and justice; the LORD’s faithfulness extends throughout the earth.
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4 The offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the LORD as in former times and years past.
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2 All a person’s ways seem right in his own opinion, but the LORD evaluates the motives.
- Prov 16:11-122 verses69%
11 Honest scales and balances are from the LORD; all the weights in the bag are his handiwork.
12 Doing wickedness is an abomination to kings, because a throne is established in righteousness.
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27 An unjust person is an abomination to the righteous, and the one who lives an upright life is an abomination to the wicked.
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23 The LORD abhors differing weights, and dishonest scales are wicked.
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15 Justice, Love, and Propriety“‘You must not deal unjustly in judgment: you must neither show partiality to the poor nor honor the rich. You must judge your fellow citizen fairly.
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20 You must pursue justice alone so that you may live and inherit the land the LORD your God is giving you.
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1 Rash Vows(4:17) Be careful what you do when you go to the temple of God; draw near to listen rather than to offer a sacrifice like fools, for they do not realize that they are doing wrong.
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6 The LORD does what is fair, and executes justice for all the oppressed.
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11 Then the LORD said to me,“Under the circumstances, wayward Israel could even be considered less guilty than unfaithful Judah.
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17 Resistance to the Lord through Self-deceit You have wearied the LORD with your words. But you say,“How have we wearied him?” Because you say,“Everyone who does evil is good in the LORD’s opinion, and he delights in them,” or“Where is the God of justice?”
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16 The Problem of Injustice and Oppression I saw something else on earth: In the place of justice, there was wickedness, and in the place of fairness, there was wickedness.