For I delight in faithfulness, not simply in sacrifice; I delight in acknowledging God, not simply in whole burnt offerings.

I cared for you in the wilderness, in the dry desert where no water was.

Blow the ram’s horn in Gibeah! Sound the trumpet in Ramah! Sound the alarm in Beth Aven! Tremble in fear, O Benjamin!

In the womb he attacked his brother; in his manly vigor he struggled with God.

I granted you a king in my anger, and I will take him away in my wrath!

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

He will restore us in a very short time; he will heal us in a little while, so that we may live in his presence.

“I am the Lord your God who brought you out of Egypt; I will make you live in tents again as in the days of old.

They will not remain in the Lord’s land. Ephraim will return to Egypt; they will eat ritually unclean food in Assyria.

At that time, I will destroy the military power of Israel in the valley of Jezreel.”

I will commit myself to you in faithfulness; then you will acknowledge the Lord.”

They will return in fear and trembling like birds from Egypt, like doves from Assyria, and I will settle them in their homes,” declares the Lord.

Therefore, I will soon fence her in with thorns; I will wall her in so that she cannot find her way.

A sword will flash in their cities, it will destroy the bars of their city gates, and will devour them in their fortresses.

Is there idolatry in Gilead? Certainly its inhabitants will come to nothing! Do they sacrifice bulls in Gilgal? Surely their altars will be like stones heaped up on a plowed field!

Those who revolt are knee-deep in slaughter, but I will discipline them all.

I have seen a disgusting thing in the temple of Israel: there Ephraim practices temple prostitution and Judah defiles itself.

When Ephraim spoke, there was terror; he was exalted in Israel, but he became guilty by worshiping Baal and died.

Who is wise? Let him discern these things! Who is discerning? Let him understand them! For the ways of the Lord are right; the godly walk in them, but in them the rebellious stumble.

Afterward, the Israelites will turn and seek the Lord their God and their Davidic king. Then they will submit to the Lord in fear and receive his blessings in the future.