The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
However costly and solemn be the outward show of the wicked man's "sacrifice," it not only is not the Lord's "delight," as is the upright, man's simple "prayer," but it is a positive "abomination." The unbelieving please themselves with external ceremonials, without piety of heart and life. The godly offer real prayer; the ungodly offer an empty sound. Outward "sacrifice" (with which the wicked compound for obedience, 1 Samuel 15:22) is attributed to them; "prayer" to the upright.