⁴ O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? for your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the dew that goeth early away. ⁵ Therefore have I hewed them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth: and thy judgments are as the light that goeth forth. ⁶ For I desire goodness, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt-offerings.

⁷ But they like Adam have transgressed the covenant: there have they dealt treacherously against me. ⁸ Gilead is a city of them that 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 lewdness. ¹⁰ In the house of Israel I have seen a horrible thing: there whoredom is found 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 is the iniquity of Ephraim uncovered, and the wickedness of Samaria; for they commit falsehood, and the thief entereth in, and the troop of robbers ravageth without. ² And they consider not in their hearts that I remember all their wickedness: now have their own doings beset them about; they are before my face.