1 “ Come, let us return to the Lord. He has hurt us but He will heal us. He has cut us but He will cover the sore.

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 give us new life. He will raise us up on the third day, 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 S o keep on trying to know the Lord. His coming to us is as sure as the rising of the sun. He will come to us like the rain, like the spring rain giving water to 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 “ What should I do with you, Ephraim? What should I do with you, Judah? Your loving-kindness is like a morning cloud, and like the water on the grass in the early morning.

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 S o I have cut them in pieces by the men who speak for Me. I have killed them by the words of My mouth. My punishments come upon you like lightning.

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 I want loving-kindness and not a gift to be given in worship. I want people to know God instead of giving burnt gifts.

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

7 B ut like Adam they have sinned against the agreement. They were not faithful to Me there.

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

8 G ilead is a city of wrong-doers, with blood in every footstep.

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

9 L ike robbers lie in wait for a man, a group of religious leaders kill on the way to Shechem. For sure they have done a sinful thing.

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 very bad thing among the people of Israel. Ephraim has left Me to worship false gods. Israel has made itself unclean.

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

11 A lso, Judah, there is a time coming for you, when I give back the riches of My people.

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