for they shall be compassed with rocks as with a trench, and shall be overcome; and he that flees shall be taken. Thus says the Lord, Blessed is he that has a seed in Zion, and household friends in Jerusalem.

And the altar [shall be] four cubits; and from the altar and above the horns a cubit.

And the altar [shall be] of the length of twelve cubits, by twelve cubits [in breadth], square upon its four sides.

And David dwelt in the stronghold, and it was called the City of David, and he built the city itself round about from the citadel, and [he built] his own house.

Of what [value] to Me is the abundance of your sacrifices? Says the Lord; I am full of whole burnt offerings of rams; and I delight not in the fat of lambs, and the blood of bulls and goats;

Though you bring fine flour, [it is] futile; incense is an abomination to Me; I cannot bear your new moons, and your Sabbaths, and the great day;

When you stretch forth your hands, I will turn away My eyes from you; and though you make many supplications, I will not hearken to you; for your hands are full of blood.

Thus says the Lord, Gather your whole burnt offerings with your grain offerings, and eat flesh.

They shall go with sheep and calves diligently to seek the Lord; but they shall not find Him, for He has withdrawn Himself from them.

For if they should offer a sacrifice, and eat flesh, the Lord will not accept them. Now will He remember their iniquities, and will take vengeance on their sins; they have returned to Egypt, and they shall eat unclean things among the Assyrians.

They have not offered wine to the Lord, neither have their sacrifices been sweet to Him, [but] as the bread of mourning to them; all that eat them shall be defiled; for their bread for their soul shall not enter into the house of the Lord.

You went into Bethel and sinned, and you multiplied sin at Gilgal; and you brought your grain offerings in the morning, and your tithes every third day.

And they read the law outdoors, and called for public professions: proclaim aloud that the children of Israel have loved these things, says the Lord.

For the law having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the image itself of the things, can never with the same sacrifices, which they offer continually every year, make those approaching perfect.

But the transgressor that sacrifices a calf to Me, is as he that kills a dog; and he that offers fine flour, as [one that offers] swine's blood; he that gives frankincense for a memorial, is as a blasphemer. Yet they have chosen their own ways, and their soul has delighted in their abominations.

With what shall I reach the Lord, and lay hold of my God most high? Shall I reach Him by whole burnt offerings, by calves of a year old?

Will the Lord accept thousands of rams, or ten thousands of fat goats? Should I give my first born for ungodliness, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?