See commentary on Jacob 4:5. Noah and his priests, like apostate Israel in the Old World, sought salvation in ritual observance. Theirs was but a whited sepulchre or a form of godliness used to hide their wicked deeds. Of such ritual without righteousness the Lord said: “I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies. Though ye offer me burnt offerings and your meat offerings, I will not accept them: neither will I regard the peace offering of your fat beasts. Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols. But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream.” (Amos 5:21-24.)