Psalms 40:6

Sacrifice and offering Thou didst not desire, God does not ask for, and takes no pleasure in, mere outward offerings, in a mechanical form of worship, whether such sacrifices are in the form of thank and peace-offerings, intended to establish a closer fellowship with God, or in burnt offerings and sin-offerings, which are made to atone for sins; Mine ears hast Thou opened, literally, "ears hast Thou digged for Me," preparing His ears for hearing and heeding His will, in a true form of worship; burnt offering and sin-offering hast Thou not required, for all such outward forms of worship have value only in the measure of their flowing out of true faith, 1 Samuel 15:22.