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Atomic Bible
Psalms 40:6
Sacrifice and offering You did not desire,
from I Waited Patiently for the LORD, Psalms 40:1-17
What it says

David says God did not ultimately desire sacrifice and offering, but prepared him for responsive obedience.

What it is doing

This verse reorients worship from ritual alone to yielded hearing and doing.

In context

1For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. 2He lifted me up from the pit of despair, 3He put a new song in my mouth, 4Blessed is the man 5Many, O LORD my God, 6Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, 7Then I said, “Here I am, I have come — 8I delight to do Your will, O my God; 9I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly; 10I have not covered up Your righteousness in my heart; 11O LORD, do not withhold Your mercy from me; 12For evils without number surround me; 13Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me; 14May those who seek my life 15May those who say to me, “Aha, aha!” 16May all who seek You 17But I am poor and needy;