1 “ Come, let us return to the Lord. For He has torn us, but He will heal us; He has wounded us, but He will bandage us.

Come, and let us return to the Lord; For He has torn, but He will heal us; He has stricken, but He will bind us up.

2 “ He will revive us after two days; He will raise us up on the third day, That we may live before Him.

After two days He will revive us; On the third day He will raise us up, That we may live in His sight.

3 “ So let us know, let us press on to know the Lord. His going forth is as certain as the dawn; And He will come to us like the rain, Like the spring rain watering the earth.”

Let us know, Let us pursue the knowledge of the Lord. His going forth is established as the morning; He will come to us like the rain, Like the latter and former rain to the earth. Impenitence of Israel and Judah

4 W hat shall I do with you, O Ephraim? What shall I do with you, O Judah? For your loyalty is like a morning cloud And like the dew which goes away early.

“O Ephraim, what shall I do to you? O Judah, what shall I do to you? For your faithfulness is like a morning cloud, And like the early dew it goes away.

5 T herefore I have hewn them in pieces by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of My mouth; And the judgments on you are like the light that goes forth.

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

6 F or I delight in loyalty rather than sacrifice, And in the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

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

7 B ut like Adam they have transgressed the covenant; There they have dealt treacherously against Me.

“But like men they transgressed the covenant; There they dealt treacherously with Me.

8 G ilead is a city of wrongdoers, Tracked with bloody footprints.

Gilead is a city of evildoers And defiled with blood.

9 A nd as raiders wait for a man, So a band of priests murder on the way to Shechem; Surely they have committed crime.

As bands of robbers lie in wait for a man, So the company of priests murder on the way to Shechem; Surely they commit lewdness.

10 I n the house of Israel I have seen a horrible thing; Ephraim’s harlotry is there, Israel has defiled itself.

I have seen a horrible thing in the house of Israel: There is the harlotry of Ephraim; Israel is defiled.

11 A lso, O Judah, there is a harvest appointed for you, When I restore the fortunes of My people.

Also, O Judah, a harvest is appointed for you, When I return the captives of My people.