Proverbs 28:9
Whoever turns his ear away from hearing the law, even his prayer is detestable.
BSB
ASV
He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, Even his prayer is an abomination.
KJV
He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.
And so it cometh to pass that our tongue is so much the less respected of God when we pray, by how much we are more defiled with foolish speech, because, as it is written: "He that turneth away his ear that he hear not the law, his prayer shall be execrable." What marvel, then, is it, if, when we pray, God doth slowly hear us, when as we hear God's commandments, either slowly or not at all?
Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread: the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.
The walk8
Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.
Through
Psalms 66:18If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.
leads to
The LORD is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous.
Reached by 2 independent paths from here.
The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is His delight.
Reached by 2 independent paths from here.
We know that God does not listen to sinners, but He does listen to the one who worships Him and does His will.
When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; even though you multiply your prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood.
And when you do ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may squander it on your pleasures.
Through
Proverbs 15:8The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is His delight.
leads to
The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable—how much more so when brought with ill intent!
Reached by 2 independent paths from here.
I know, my God, that You test the heart and delight in uprightness. All these things I have given willingly and with an upright heart, and now I have seen Your people who are…
What use to Me is frankincense from Sheba or sweet cane from a distant land? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable; your sacrifices do not please Me.”