The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is His delight.
Parallel translations
- WEB The sacrifice made by the wicked is an abomination to Yahweh, but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
- KJV The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
- NKJV The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, But the prayer of the upright is His delight.
- NASB The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, But the prayer of the upright is His delight.
- NLT The Lord detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but he delights in the prayers of the upright.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
God detests the sacrifice of the wicked but delights in the prayer of the upright. He desires sincere hearts, not empty ritual.
Overview
This proverb declares that outward religious acts from a wicked heart are an abomination to the LORD, while even the simple prayer of the upright pleases Him. God looks at the heart, not merely the ritual. The gospel makes plain that acceptable worship flows from faith and a heart made right through Christ (Hebrews 11:6).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- Prov 15:29The LORD is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous.
- 1 Chr 29:17I know, my God, that You test the heart and delight in uprightness. All these things I have given willingly and with an upright heart, and now I have seen Your people who are present here giving joyfully and willingly to You.
- Prov 21:27The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable—how much more so when brought with ill intent!
- Prov 28:9Whoever turns his ear away from hearing the law, even his prayer is detestable.
- Jer 6:20What use to Me is frankincense from Sheba or sweet cane from a distant land? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable; your sacrifices do not please Me.”
- Isa 1:10–15Hear the word of the LORD, you rulers of Sodom; listen to the instruction of our God, you people of Gomorrah!
- Isa 61:8For I, the LORD, love justice; I hate robbery and iniquity; in My faithfulness I will give them their recompense and make an everlasting covenant with them.
- John 4:24God is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship Him in spirit and in truth.”
- Eccl 5:1Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Draw near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong.
- Ps 17:1A prayer of David. Hear, O LORD, my righteous plea; listen to my cry. Give ear to my prayer—it comes from lips free of deceit.
- Jer 7:21–23This is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: Add your burnt offerings to your other sacrifices and eat the meat yourselves!
- Isa 66:3Whoever slaughters an ox is like one who slays a man; whoever sacrifices a lamb is like one who breaks a dog’s neck; whoever presents a grain offering is like one who offers pig’s blood; whoever offers frankincense is like one who blesses an idol. Indeed, they have chosen their own ways and delighted in their abominations.
- Song 2:14O my dove in the clefts of the rock, in the crevices of the cliff, let me see your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your countenance is lovely.
- Amos 5:21–22“I hate, I despise your feasts! I cannot stand the stench of your solemn assemblies.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Wisdom personified, with God before creation and the agent of all things, anticipates Christ 'in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom' — the wisdom of God made flesh.
How Proverbs 15:8 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.