The Lord says, “I have abandoned Israel;     I have rejected my chosen nation. I have given the people I love     into the power of their enemies.

The Lord's unfailing love and mercy still continue,    

and God made Ashpenaz sympathetic to Daniel.

I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed the sins of my people.I said, “Lord God, you are great, and we honour you. You are faithful to your covenant and show constant love to those who love you and do what you command.

I want your constant love, not your animal sacrifices. I would rather have my people know me than burn offerings to me.

Gomer had a second child — this time it was a daughter. The Lord said to Hosea, “Name her ‘Unloved’, because I will no longer show love to the people of Israel or forgive them.

The Lord has an accusation to bring against the people who live in this land. Listen, Israel, to what he says: “There is no faithfulness or love in the land, and the people do not acknowledge me as God.

But to the people of Judah I will show love. I, the Lord their God, will save them, but I will not do it by war — with swords or bows and arrows or with horses and horsemen.”

(4-5) I will not show mercy to her children; they are the children of a shameless prostitute. She herself said, “I will go to my lovers — they give me food and water, wool and linen, olive oil and wine.”