The Lord’s First Lament

What am I going to do with you, Ephraim?(A)
What am I going to do with you, Judah?
Your love is like the morning mist(B)
and like the early dew that vanishes.
This is why I have used the prophets
to cut them down;[a](C)
I have killed them with the words from my mouth.
My judgment strikes like lightning.[b]
For I desire faithful love and not sacrifice,
the knowledge of God(D) rather than burnt offerings.(E)

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Footnotes

  1. 6:5 Or have cut down the prophets
  2. 6:5 LXX, Syr, Tg; MT reads Your judgments go out as light

“What am I to do with you, Ephraim?
    What am I to do with you, Judah?
Your love is like a morning rain cloud—
    it passes away like the morning dew.
Therefore I cut them[a] to pieces by the prophets,
    killing them by the words from my mouth.
        The verdict against you shines like a beacon.
For it is love that I seek,
    and not sacrifice;
        knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

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Footnotes

  1. Hosea 6:5 The Heb. lacks them

“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)
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)
For I desire mercy, not sacrifice,(E)
    and acknowledgment(F) of God rather than burnt offerings.(G)

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Footnotes

  1. Hosea 6:5 The meaning of the Hebrew for this line is uncertain.