What God Requires

⁶ ‘With what shall I come before the ^Lord,   and bow myself before God on high?Shall I come before him with burnt-offerings,   with calves a year old?⁷ Will the ^Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,   with tens of thousands of rivers of oil?Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression,   the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?’⁸ He has told you, O mortal, what is good;   and what does the ^Lord require of youbut to do justice, and to love kindness,   and to walk humbly with your God?

⁹ How can young people keep their way pure?   By guarding it according to your word.¹⁰ With my whole heart I seek you;   do not let me stray from your commandments.¹¹ I treasure your word in my heart,   so that I may not sin against you.¹² Blessed are you, O ^Lord;   teach me your statutes.¹³ With my lips I declare   all the ordinances of your mouth.¹⁴ I delight in the way of your decrees   as much as in all riches.¹⁵ I will meditate on your precepts,   and fix my eyes on your ways.¹⁶ I will delight in your statutes;   I will not forget your word.