<p class="poetry">For I delight in faithfulness, not simply in sacrifice;p> <p class="poetry">I delight<n id="1" /> in acknowledging God, not simply in whole burnt offerings.<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">I will commit myself to you<n id="1" /> forever;p> <p class="poetry">I will commit myself to you in<n id="2" /> righteousness and justice,p> <p class="poetry">in steadfast love and tender compassion.p>

<p class="poetry">But you must return<n id="1" /> to your God,p> <p class="poetry">by maintaining love and justice,p> <p class="poetry">and by waiting<n id="2" /> for your God to return to you.<n id="3" />p>

<t /><p class="poetry">What am I going to do with you, O Ephraim?p> <p class="poetry">What am I going to do with you, O Judah?p> <p class="poetry">For<n id="1" /> your faithfulness is as fleeting as the morning mist;<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">it disappears as quickly as dawn&#8217;s dew!<n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry">Sow righteousness for yourselves,p> <p class="poetry">reap unfailing love.p> <p class="poetry">Break up the unplowed ground for yourselves,p> <p class="poetry">for it is time to seek the <sc>Lordsc>,p> <p class="poetry">until he comes and showers deliverance<n id="1" /> on you.p>

<t /><p class="poetry">Hear the word of the <sc>Lordsc>, you Israelites!<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">For the <sc>Lordsc> has a covenant lawsuit<n id="2" /> against the people of Israel.<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">For there is neither faithfulness nor loyalty in the land,p> <p class="poetry">nor do they acknowledge God.<n id="4" />p>