Law and Sacrifices

¹ He who keeps the law makes many offerings;

² he who heeds the commandments sacrifices a peace offering.

³ He who returns a kindness offers fine flour,

⁴ and he who gives alms sacrifices a thank offering.

⁵ To keep from wickedness is pleasing to the Lord, and to forsake unrighteousness is atonement.

⁶ Do not appear before the Lord empty-handed,

⁷ for all these things are to be done because of the commandment.

⁸ The offering of a righteous man anoints the altar, and its pleasing odour rises before the Most High.

⁹ The sacrifice of a righteous man is acceptable, and the memory of it will not be forgotten.

¹⁰ Glorify the Lord generously and do not stint the firstfruits of your hands.

¹¹ With every gift show a cheerful face and dedicate your tithe with gladness.

¹² Give to the Most High as he has given and as generously as you are able.

¹³ For the Lord is the one who repays, and he will repay you sevenfold.

Divine Justice

¹⁴ Do not offer him a bribe, for he will not accept it;

¹⁵ and do not trust to an unrighteous sacrifice; for the Lord is the judge, and with him is no partiality.

¹⁶ He will not show partiality in the case of a poor man; and he will listen to the prayer of one who is wronged.

¹⁷ He will not ignore the supplication of the orphan or the widow when she pours out her story.

¹⁸ Do not the tears of the widow run down her cheek

¹⁹ as she cries out against him who has caused them to fall?

²⁰ He whose service is pleasing to the Lord will be accepted, and his prayer will reach to the clouds.

²¹ The prayer of the humble pierces the clouds, and he will not be consoled until it reaches the Lord; he will not desist until the Most High visits him

²² and does justice for the righteous and executes judgement. And the Lord will not delay, neither will he be patient with them, till he crushes the loins of the unmerciful

²³ and repays vengeance on the nations; till he takes away the multitude of the insolent and breaks the sceptres of the unrighteous;

²⁴ till he repays a person according to his deeds and the works of men according to their devices; ²⁵ till he judges the case of his people and makes them rejoice in his mercy.

²⁶ Mercy is as welcome in time of affliction as clouds of rain in the time of drought.