5 Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets,
I have slain them by ^athe words of My mouth;
And¹ your judgments are like light that goes forth. ‡

6 For I desire ^amercy and ^bnot sacrifice,
And the ^cknowledge of God more than burnt offerings. ‡

8 ^aGilead is a city of evildoers
And¹ defiled with blood. ‡

9 As bands of robbers lie in wait for a man,
So the company of ^apriests ^bmurder on the way to Shechem;
Surely they commit ^clewdness. ‡