Matthew 12:7

If ¹  you had known what this means: ‘I want mercy and not sacrifice,’ ²  you would not have condemned the innocent.

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

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

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.’

If you had any idea what this Scripture meant--'I prefer a flexible heart to an inflexible ritual'--you wouldn't be nitpicking like this.

But if these words had been in your minds, My desire is for mercy and not for offerings, you would not have been judging those who have done no wrong.

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

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

If ¹  you had known what this means: ‘I want mercy and not sacrifice,’ ²  you would not have condemned the innocent.

¹ tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

² sn A quotation from Hos 6:6 (see also Matt 9:13).