I will commit myself to you forever; I will commit myself to you in righteousness and justice, in steadfast love and tender compassion.

Ephraim will be oppressed, crushed under judgment, because he was determined to pursue worthless idols.

Therefore, I will certainly cut you into pieces at the hands of the prophets; I will certainly kill you in fulfillment of my oracles of judgment; for my judgment will come forth like the light of the dawn.

They utter empty words, taking false oaths and making empty agreements. Therefore legal disputes sprout up like poisonous weeds in the furrows of a plowed field.

But you must return to your God, by maintaining love and justice, and by waiting for your God to return to you.

Hear this, you priests! Pay attention, you Israelites! Listen closely, O king! For judgment is about to overtake you! For you were like a trap to Mizpah, like a net spread out to catch Tabor.