17 Or “I will not take.”
18 Heb “[the] animals on a thousand hills.” The words “that graze” are supplied in the translation for clarification. The term בְּהֵמוֹה (béhemot, “animal”) refers here to cattle (see Ps 104:14).
19 Heb “I know.”
20 The precise referent of the Hebrew word, which occurs only here and in Ps 80:13, is uncertain. Aramaic, Arabic and Akkadian cognates refer to insects, such as locusts or crickets.
21 The rhetorical questions assume an emphatic negative response, “Of course not!”
22 Heb “Most High.” This divine title (עֶלְיוֹן, ’elyon) pictures God as the exalted ruler of the universe who vindicates the innocent and judges the wicked. See especially Pss 7:17; 9:2; 18:13; 21:7; 47:2.
23 Heb “call [to] me in a day of trouble.”
24 In vv. 7–15 the Lord makes it clear that he was not rebuking Israel because they had failed to offer sacrifices (v. 8a). On the contrary, they had been faithful in doing so (v. 8b). However, their understanding of the essence of their relationship with God was confused. Apparently they believed that he needed/desired such sacrifices and that offering them would ensure their prosperity. But the Lord owns all the animals of the world and did not need Israel’s meager sacrifices (vv. 9–13). Other aspects of the relationship were more important to the Lord. He desired Israel to be thankful for his blessings (v. 14a), to demonstrate gratitude for his intervention by repaying the vows they made to him (v. 14b), and to acknowledge their absolute dependence on him (v. 15a). Rather than viewing their sacrifices as somehow essential to God’s well-being, they needed to understand their dependence on him.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

I will not accept a bull from your house

or goats from your folds.

For every beast of the forest is mine,

the cattle on a thousand hills.

I know all the birds of the hills,

and all that moves in the field is mine.

“If I were hungry, I would not tell you,

for the world and its fullness are mine.

Do I eat the flesh of bulls

or drink the blood of goats?

Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving,

and perform your vows to the Most High,

and call upon me in the day of trouble;

I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.”

NIVNew International Version (2011)

I have no need of a bull from your stall

or of goats from your pens,

for every animal of the forest is mine,

and the cattle on a thousand hills.

I know every bird in the mountains,

and the insects in the fields are mine.

If I were hungry I would not tell you,

for the world is mine, and all that is in it.

Do I eat the flesh of bulls

or drink the blood of goats?

“Sacrifice thank offerings to God,

fulfill your vows to the Most High,

and call on me in the day of trouble;

I will deliver you, and you will honor me.”

CSBChristian Standard Bible

I will not take a bull from your household

or male goats from your pens,

for every animal of the forest is mine,

the cattle on a thousand hills.

I know every bird of the mountains,

and the creatures of the field are mine.

If I were hungry, I would not tell you,

for the world and everything in it is mine.

Do I eat the flesh of bulls

or drink the blood of goats?

Offer a thanksgiving sacrifice to God,

and pay your vows to the Most High.

Call on me in a day of trouble;

I will rescue you, and you will honor me.”

NLTNew Living Translation

But I do not need the bulls from your barns

or the goats from your pens.

For all the animals of the forest are mine,

and I own the cattle on a thousand hills.

I know every bird on the mountains,

and all the animals of the field are mine.

If I were hungry, I would not tell you,

for all the world is mine and everything in it.

Do I eat the meat of bulls?

Do I drink the blood of goats?

Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God,

and keep the vows you made to the Most High.

Then call on me when you are in trouble,

and I will rescue you,

and you will give me glory.”

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

I will not take from your house a bull

or from your stalls a he-goat,

because every animal of the forest is mine,

the cattle on a thousand hills.

I know every bird of the mountains,

and every moving creature in the field is mine.

If I were hungry I would not tell you,

because the world and its fullness are mine.

Do I eat the flesh of bulls

or drink the blood of goats?

Offer to God a thank offering

and pay your vows to the Most High.

And call me in the day of trouble;

I will deliver you, and you will glorify me.”

KJV 1900King James Version

I will take no bullock out of thy house,

Nor he goats out of thy folds.

For every beast of the forest is mine,

And the cattle upon a thousand hills.

I know all the fowls of the mountains:

And the wild beasts of the field are mine.

If I were hungry, I would not tell thee:

For the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.

Will I eat the flesh of bulls,

Or drink the blood of goats?

Offer unto God thanksgiving;

And pay thy vows unto the most High:

And call upon me in the day of trouble:

I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.

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