This saying echoes the preaching of the prophets (see, for instance Isa 1.11-17; Amos 5.21-24) in saying that good and right behavior pleases the Lord more than ritual. It continues the thought of the previous verse by indicating the basis on which the Lord “weighs” or judges people’s motives and actions.

“To do righteousness and justice”: This is a literal rendering of the form of the Hebrew, which is followed by many versions in English; for example, “To do what is right and just. . .” (New International Version, Revised English Bible) and “Doing what is right and fair. . .” (Contemporary English Version). In other languages the form may need to be restructured to supply a subject for the verb of doing, such as “people,” “someone,” “you,” or “we [inclusive].” “Righteousness and justice” are what the prophets demanded from the Lord‘s people (Amos 5.24); “righteousness” has the sense of what is right or required in the sight of God, and “justice” refers to the proper way of behaving towards others. See also the comments on these terms at 1.3.

“Is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice”: This is literally “choice to the Lord above sacrifice.” It expresses a comparison of the value of two types of behavior which are both good. The sense of “acceptable” (“choice”) is “what is pleasing to the Lord” (see Good News Translation) or “what the Lord likes.”

A typical translation of the whole verse that supplies a subject as suggested above is “You must do what is straight, and you must treat all people the same. This will make the Lord gladder, it will win over burning sacrifices to worship him.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Proverbs. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .