God separates himself from the blood-guilty, ignoring their prayers until they are prayers of repentance.

“When you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not listen; your hands are full of blood. Wash yourselves… remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes…cease to do evil… seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause” (Is 1:15-17).