Hosea 6:4-Hosea 7:2 - The Lord's First Lament

⁴ What shall I do unto thee, Ephraim? What shall I do unto thee, Judah? For your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the dew that early passeth away. ⁵ Therefore have I hewed them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth: and my judgment goeth forth as the light. ⁶ For I delight in loving-kindness, 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 tracked with blood. ⁹ And as troops of robbers lie in wait for a man, so the company of priests murder in the way of Shechem; yea, they commit lewdness. ¹⁰ In the house of Israel have I seen a horrible thing: the whoredom of Ephraim is there; Israel is defiled. ¹¹ Also, for thee, Judah, is a harvest appointed, when I shall turn again the captivity of my people.

¹ When I would heal Israel, then the iniquity of Ephraim is discovered, and the wickedness of Samaria: for they practise falsehood; and the thief entereth in, and the troop of robbers assaileth without. ² And they say not in their hearts that I remember all their wickedness: now do their own doings encompass them; they are before my face.