This book presents a prophetic narrative by a contemporary of Isaiah and Micah characterizing the apostasy of God's chosen people as spiritual adultery.

1:10 Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said to them, You are not my people, there it shall be said to them, Ye are the sons of the living God.

2:19 I will betroth you to me forever ... in righteousness and in judgment and in loving kindness and in mercies.

2:23 I will sow her to me in the earth; and I will have mercy on her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to those who were not my people, You art my people; and they shall say, You are my God.

6:6 I desire mercy and not sacrifice and knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

10:1 Israel is an empty vine, he brings forth fruit to himself: according to the crowd of his fruit he has increased the altars; according to the goodness of his land they have made goodly images.

10:12 Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, until he come and rain righteousness on you.

11:1 When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.

11:8 How shall I give you up, Ephraim? How shall I deliver you, Israel? How shall I make you as Admah? How shall I set you as Zeboim? My heart is turned within me, my repentings are kindled together.