Verses 1-2 could be a summary of what Amos had already said to Israel before Hosea began to prophesy. 'There is no faithfulness or love in the land, and the people do not acknowledge me as God. They make promises and break them; they lie, murder, steal and commit adultery. Crimes increase, and there is one murder after another.' The laws of the Decalogue are rejected. Verse 3 prophesies the curse that will fall on the land because of the immoral behaviour of the people.