4 “What can I do with you, Ephraim?

What can I do with you, Judah?

Your love is like the morning mist,

like the early dew that disappears.

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.

4 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 early away.

5 Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets;

I have slain them by the words of my mouth,

and my judgment goes forth as the light.

6 For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice,

the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

4 O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee?

O Judah, what shall I do unto thee?

For your goodness is as a morning cloud,

And as the early dew it goeth away.

5 Therefore have I hewed them by the prophets;

I have slain them by the words of my mouth:

And thy judgments are as the light that goeth forth.

6 For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice;

And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

4 “O Israel and Judah,

what should I do with you?” asks the Lord.

“For your love vanishes like the morning mist

and disappears like dew in the sunlight.

5 I sent my prophets to cut you to pieces—

to slaughter you with my words,

with judgments as inescapable as light.

6 I want you to show love,

not offer sacrifices.

I want you to know me

more than I want burnt offerings.

4 The Lord says, “Israel, what should I do with you?

Judah, what should I do with you?

Your faithfulness is like a morning mist,

like the dew that goes away early in the day.

5 I have warned you by my prophets

that I will kill you and destroy you.

My justice comes out like bright light.

6 I want faithful love

more than I want animal sacrifices.

I want people to know me

more than I want burnt offerings.

4 O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? for your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the dew that goeth early away. 5 Therefore have I hewed them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth: and thy judgments are as the light that goeth forth. 6 For I desire goodness, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt-offerings.

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.

4 “What should I do with you, Ephraim? 

What should I do with you, Judah? 

Your love is like fog in the morning. 

It disappears as quickly as the morning dew. 

5 That is why I cut ⸤you⸥ down by sending the prophets. 

I killed you with the words from my mouth. 

My judgments shined on you like light. 

6 I want your loyalty, not your sacrifices. 

I want you to know me, not to give me burnt offerings. 

4 What am I going to do with you, Ephraim?

What am I going to do with you, Judah?

Your loyalty is like the morning mist

and like the early dew that vanishes.

5 This is why I have used the prophets

to cut them down;

I have killed them with the words of My mouth.

My judgment strikes like lightning.

6 For I desire loyalty and not sacrifice,

the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

4 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.

5 Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets,

I have killed them by the words of my mouth,

and my judgment goes forth as the light.

6 For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice,

the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

4 What will I do with you, O Ephraim?

What will I do with you, O Judah?

Your love is like a morning cloud,

like the dew that goes away early in the morning.

5 Therefore, I have hewn them by the prophets;

I have killed them by the words of my mouth,

and my judgment goes forth like the light.

6 Because I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice,

and knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

4 The Lord says, “Ephraim, what can I do with you?

And what can I do with you, Judah?

Your love for me vanishes like the morning mist.

It soon disappears like the early dew.

5 So I used the words of my prophets to cut you in pieces.

I used my words to put you to death.

When I judged you, I struck you like lightning.

6 I want mercy and not sacrifice.

I want you to recognize me as God

instead of bringing me burnt offerings.

4 What shall I do with you, O Ephraim?

What shall I do with you, O Judah?

For your loyalty is like a morning cloud

And like the dew which goes away early.

5 Therefore I have hewn them in pieces by the prophets;

I have slain them by the words of My mouth;

And the judgments on you are like the light that goes forth.

6 For I delight in loyalty rather than sacrifice,

And in the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.