1 C ome and let us return to the Lord, for He has torn so that He may heal us; He has stricken so that He may bind us up.

Come, and let us return unto the Lord: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.

2 A fter two days He will revive us (quicken us, give us life); on the third day He will raise us up that we may live before Him.

After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.

3 Y es, let us know (recognize, be acquainted with, and understand) Him; let us be zealous to know the Lord. His going forth is prepared and certain as the dawn, and He will come to us as the rain, as the latter rain that waters the earth.

Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.

4 O Ephraim, what shall I do with you? O Judah, what shall I do with you? For your love and kindness are like the night mist or like the dew that goes early away.

O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? for your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away.

5 T herefore have I hewn down and smitten them by means of the prophets; I have slain them by the words of My mouth; My judgments are like the light that goes forth.

Therefore have I hewed them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth: and thy judgments are as the light that goeth forth.

6 F or I desire and delight in dutiful steadfast love and goodness, not sacrifice, and the knowledge of and acquaintance with God more than burnt offerings.

For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

7 B ut they, like men and like Adam, have transgressed the covenant; there have they dealt faithlessly and treacherously with Me.

But they like men have transgressed the covenant: there have they dealt treacherously against me.

8 G ilead is a city of evildoers; it is tracked with bloody.

Gilead is a city of them that work iniquity, and is polluted with blood.

9 A nd as troops of robbers lie in wait for a man, so the company of priests murder on the road toward Shechem; yes, they commit villainy and outrages.

And as troops of robbers wait for a man, so the company of priests murder in the way by consent: for they commit lewdness.

10 I have seen a horrible thing in the house of Israel! There harlotry and idolatry are found in Ephraim; Israel is defiled.

I have seen an horrible thing in the house of Israel: there is the whoredom of Ephraim, Israel is defiled.

11 A lso, O Judah, there is a harvest appointed for you; when I would return My people from their captivity,

Also, O Judah, he hath set an harvest for thee, when I returned the captivity of my people.