“in vain.” This is one of the many verses in the Bible that says that if a person’s heart is not right with God, all the “religious actions,” such as offering, prayers, fasting, etc., are of no purpose. God looks on the heart. As God says in this verse, He will not accept an offering from these evil people.

[For more information about the sacrifices of wicked people being of no value, see commentary on Amos 5:22.]