Matthew 12:7 — Compare All Translations

English (YLT) 1898 Young's Literal Translation by Robert Young

and if ye had known what is: Kindness I will, and not sacrifice -- ye had not condemned the blameless,

English ASV

But if ye had known what this meaneth, I desire mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.

English Amplified

And if you had only known what this saying means, I desire mercy [readiness to help, to spare, to forgive] rather than sacrifice and sacrificial victims, you would not have condemned the guiltless. [Hos. 6:6; Matt. 9:13.]

English Amplified Classic Bible 1987

And if you had only known what this saying means, I desire mercy [readiness to help, to spare, to forgive] rather than sacrifice and sacrificial victims, you would not have condemned the guiltless. [Hos. 6:6; Matt. 9:13.]

English Berean Standard Bible (BSB) 2025

If only you had known the meaning of ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent.

English CSB 2017 - Christian Standard Bible

If you had known what this means, I desire mercy and not sacrifice, you would not have condemned the innocent.

English Darby 1890 : Public Domain

But if ye had known what is: I will have mercy and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.

English EASY 2024

You should understand what the Bible teaches. God says there, “I want people to be kind to each other. I do not just want them to offer sacrifices to me.” If you had understood this, then you would not have said to me, “Your disciples are doing something wrong.”

English ERV 2006 - Only For Website

The Scriptures say, 'I don't want animal sacrifices; I want you to show kindness to people.' You don't really know what that means. If you understood it, you would not judge those who have done nothing wrong.

And if you had known what this means, 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the guiltless.

English GNT (Good News Translation)

The scripture says, ‘It is kindness that I want, not animal sacrifices.’ If you really knew what this means, you would not condemn people who are not guilty;

English God's Word - GW 1995

If you had known what 'I want mercy, not sacrifices' means, you would not have condemned innocent people.

English HCSB 2004 - Copyrighted Only For Website

If you had known what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice, you would not have condemned the innocent.

English KJV 1611

But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.

English LSB

But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire compassion, and not a sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent.

English MEV 2014 (Modern English Version)

If you had known what this meant, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent.

English NASB (New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995)

"But if you had known what this means, 'I DESIRE COMPASSION, AND NOT A SACRIFICE,' you would not have condemned the innocent.

English NASU 1989 - New American Standard Update - Only for Website

If you knew what this meant, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned these innocent men.

English NET Bible - 2005 (New English Translation)

If you had known what this means: ‘ I want mercy and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent.

English NIRV 1996 - Copyrighted only for Website

Scripture says, 'I want mercy and not sacrifice.'--(Hosea 6:6) You don't know what those words mean. If you did, you would not bring charges against those who are not guilty.

English NIV

If you had known what these words mean, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the innocent.

English NKJ 1982

But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless.

English NLT

But you would not have condemned those who aren't guilty if you knew the meaning of this Scripture: 'I want you to be merciful; I don't want your sacrifices.'

English NRSV 1989 - Only for website

But if you had known what this means, 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the guiltless.

English Passion Translation Bible 2020

If only you could learn the meaning of the words ‘I want compassion more than a sacrifice,’ you wouldn’t be condemning my innocent disciples.

English RSV (Revised Standard Version)

And if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless.

English TL (The Living Bible) (1971)

But if you had known the meaning of this Scripture verse, 'I want you to be merciful more than I want your offerings,' you would not have condemned those who aren't guilty!

English Tyndale 1537

Wherefore if ye had wist, what this saying meaneth: I require mercy, and not sacrifice,(I haue pleasure in mercy, and not in offering) ye would never have condemned innocents.

Matthew 12:7 — Compare Translations