Pro 21:3 | NETfull | STEP | To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.

Proverbs 21:3

3 To do righteousness and justice
is more acceptable ^{▼▼ The Niphal participle בָּחַר (bakhar, “to choose”) means “choice to the Lord” or “chosen of the Lord,” meaning “acceptable to the Lord”; cf. TEV “pleases the Lord more.”} to the Lord than sacrifice. ^{▼▼ The Lord prefers righteousness above religious service (e.g., Prov 15:8; 21:29; 1 Sam 15:22; Ps 40:6–8; Isa 1:11–17). This is not a rejection of ritual worship; rather, religious acts are without value apart from righteous living.}