1 C ome, 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.

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

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

3 L et 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

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 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.

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 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.

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

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

7 “ But like men they transgressed the covenant; There they dealt 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 And defiled with blood.

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

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

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

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