Guard your step when you go to the house of God. It is better to go there and listen than to bring the sacrifices fools bring. Fools are not aware that they do evil.

When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide my eyes from you. Even though you offer many prayers, I will not listen because your hands are full of blood.

Therefore Jehovah says: 'I am going to bring a disaster on them that they cannot escape. Although they will cry out to me, I will not listen to them.

And they do not cry to me from their heart when they wail on their beds. For the sake of grain and new wine they assemble, but they turn away from me.

Israel cries out to me: 'We know you as our God.'

Large quantities of meaningless words and repetition are not acceptable in prayer. The pagans think their gods will hear long and repetitious prayers.

What is your desire? he asked. She said to him: Let my two sons be seated, the one at your right hand, and the other at your left, in your kingdom.

You ask and do not receive because you ask wrongly (with bad motives) that you may spend it on your pleasures.

Regard

I cry to you and you do not answer me! I stand, and you do not heed me.

He has respected the prayer of the destitute and has not despised their prayer.

Yes, even if you offer me your burnt offerings and meal offerings, I will not accept them. Neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts.

General references

They cried out for help, but there was no one to save them. They cried out to Jehovah, but he did not answer them.