“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.

Infidelity and divine retribution

    Ephraim, what will I do with you?
            Judah, what will I do with you?
    Your love is like a morning cloud,
            like the dew that vanishes quickly.
    Therefore, I have attacked them by the prophets,
            I have killed them by the words of my mouth,
                and my judgment goes forth like a light.
    I desire faithful love and not sacrifice,
            the knowledge of God instead of entirely burned offerings.

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