King James Version

Proverbs 21:3

To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.

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Hebrew

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עֲ֭שֹׂהasodoעָשָׂהverb, qal, infinitive construct — “do”, the to-form of the verbH6213to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest applicationaccomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, f…צְדָקָ֣הtsedaqahjusticeצְדָקָהnoun, common, feminine, singular, absolute — “justice”, the ordinary formH6666rightness (abstractly), subjectively (rectitude), objectively (justice), morally (virtue) or figuratively (prosperity)justice, moderately, right(-eous) (act, -ly, -ness).וּמִשְׁפָּ֑טumishpatand lawמִשְׁפָּטconjunction, noun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “and law”, the ordinary formH4941properly, a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, especially a sentence or formal decree (human or (participant's) divine law, individual or collective), including the act, the place, the suit, the crime, and the penalty; abstractly, justice, including a participant's right or privilege (statutory or customary), or even a style[phrase] adversary, ceremony, charge, [idiom] crime, custom, desert, determination, discretion, disposing, due, fashion, form, to be judged, judgment, just(-ice, -ly), (manner of) law(-ful), manner, measure, (due) order, ordinance, right,…נִבְחָ֖רnivcharacceptableבָּחַרverb, niphal, participle, absolute — “acceptable”, a verb used as a describing wordH977properly, to try, i.e. (by implication) selectacceptable, appoint, choose (choice), excellent, join, be rather, require.לַיהוָ֣הlayhvahto Jehovahיְהֹוָהpreposition, noun, proper name — “to Jehovah”H3068Jehovah, Jewish national name of GodJehovah, the Lord. Compare H3050 (יָהּ), H3069 (יְהֹוִה).מִזָּֽבַחmizavachfrom sacrificeזֶבַחpreposition, noun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “from sacrifice”, the ordinary formH2077properly, a slaughter, i.e. the flesh of an animal; by implication, a sacrifice (the victim or the act)offer(-ing), sacrifice.

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

To do righteousness and justice Is more acceptable to Jehovah than sacrifice.

Young’s Literal Translation

To do righteousness and judgment, Is chosen of Jehovah rather than sacrifice.

World English Bible

To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to Yahweh than sacrifice.

Darby Translation

To exercise justice and judgment is more acceptable to Jehovah than sacrifice.

Douay-Rheims

To do mercy and judgment, pleaseth the Lord more than victims.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

To do justly and to speak truth, are more pleasing to God than the blood of sacrifices.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Ποιεῖν δίκαια καὶ ἀληθεύειν, ἀρεστὰ παρὰ Θεῷ μᾶλλον ἢ θυσιῶν αἷμα.