⁴ “What can I do with you, Ephraim?^(A)
    What can I do with you, Judah?
Your love is like the morning mist,
    like the early dew that disappears.^(B)
5 Therefore I cut you in pieces with my prophets,
    I killed you with the words of my mouth^(C)—
    then my judgments go forth like the sun.^[a](D)
6 For I desire mercy, not sacrifice,^(E)
    and acknowledgment^(F) of God rather than burnt offerings.^(G)
7 As at Adam,^[b] they have broken the covenant;^(H)
    they were unfaithful^(I) to me there.
⁸ Gilead is a city of evildoers,^(J)
    stained with footprints of blood.
⁹ As marauders lie in ambush for a victim,^(K)
    so do bands of priests;
they murder^(L) on the road to Shechem,
    carrying out their wicked schemes.^(M)
10 I have seen a horrible^(N) thing in Israel:
    There Ephraim is given to prostitution,
    Israel is defiled.^(O)

¹¹ “Also for you, Judah,
    a harvest^(P) is appointed.

“Whenever I would restore the fortunes^(Q) of my people,