1 ` Come, and we turn back unto Jehovah, For He hath torn, and He doth heal us, He doth smite, and He bindeth us up.

Come 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.

2 H e doth revive us after two days, In the third day He doth raise us up, And we live before Him.

After 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.

3 A nd we know -- we pursue to know Jehovah, As the dawn prepared is His going forth, And He cometh in as a shower to us, As gathered rain -- sprinkling earth.'

Yes, 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.

4 W hat do I do to thee, O Ephraim? What do I do to thee, O Judah? Your goodness as a cloud of the morning, And as dew rising early -- going.

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.

5 T herefore I have hewed by prophets, I have slain them by sayings of My mouth, And My judgments to the light goeth forth.

Therefore 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.

6 F or kindness I desired, and not sacrifice, And a knowledge of God above burnt-offerings.

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

7 A nd they, as Adam, transgressed a covenant, There they dealt treacherously against me.

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

8 G ilead a city of workers of iniquity, Slippery from blood.

Gilead is a city of evildoers; it is tracked with bloody.

9 A nd as bands do wait for a man, A company of priests do murder -- the way to Shechem, For wickedness they have done.

And 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.

10 I n the house of Israel I have seen a horrible thing, There the whoredom of Ephraim -- defiled is Israel.

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

11 A lso, O Judah, appointed is a harvest to thee, In My turning back the captivity of My people!

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