Hosea 6:4-Hosea 7:2 - The Lord's First Lament
4 O Ephraim, what shall I do to thee? O Judah, what shall I do to thee? For your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the dew that goes away early. 5 Therefore I have hewed them by the prophets. I have slain them by the words of my mouth. And thy judgments are [as] the light that goes forth. 6 For I desire mercy, and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt-offerings.
7 But like Adam they have transgressed the covenant. There they have dealt treacherously against me. 8 Gilead is a city of those who work iniquity; it is stained with blood. 9 And as troops of robbers wait for a man, so the company of priests murder in the way toward Shechem. Yea, they have committed iniquity. 10 I have seen a horrible thing in the house of Israel. Whoredom is there in Ephraim; Israel is defiled. 11 Also, O Judah, there is a harvest appointed for thee when I bring back the captivity of my people.
1 When I would heal Israel, then the iniquity of Ephraim is uncovered, and the wickedness of Samaria. For they commit falsehood, and the thief enters in, and the troop of robbers ravages outside. 2 And they do not consider in their hearts that I remember all their wickedness. Now their own doings have surrounded them; they are before my face.