5. Therefore I cut you in pieces with my prophets,I killed you with the words of my mouth –then my judgments go forth like the sun.
6. For I desire mercy, not sacrifice,and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.
7. As at Adam, they have broken the covenant;they were unfaithful to me there.
8. Gilead is a city of evildoers,stained with footprints of blood.
9. As marauders lie in ambush for a victim,so do bands of priests;they murder on the road to Shechem,carrying out their wicked schemes.
10. I have seen a horrible thing in Israel:there Ephraim is given to prostitution,Israel is defiled.
11. ‘Also for you, Judah,a harvest is appointed.‘Whenever I would restore the fortunes of my people,