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

Impenitence of Israel and Judah

What shall I do with you, O Ephraim?
    What shall I do with you, O Judah?
Your love is like a morning cloud,
    like the dew that goes away early.(A)
Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets;
    I have killed them by the words of my mouth,
    and my[a] judgment goes forth as the light.(B)
For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice,
    the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.(C)

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Footnotes

  1. 6.5 Gk Syr: Heb your