1
Come, a and let us return to the LORD;
For b He has torn, but c He will heal us;
He has stricken, but He will 1 bind us up.
2
d After two days He will revive us;
On the third day He will raise us up,
That we may live in His sight.
3
e Let us know,
Let us pursue the knowledge of the LORD.
His going forth is established f as the morning;
g He will come to us h like the rain,
Like the latter and former rain to 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.
5
Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets,
I have slain them by i the words of My mouth;
And 2 your judgments are like light that goes forth.
6
For I desire j mercy 3 and k not sacrifice,
And the l knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
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"But like 4 men they transgressed the covenant;
There they dealt treacherously with Me.
8
m Gilead is a city of evildoers
And 5 defiled with blood.
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As bands of robbers lie in wait for a man,
So the company of n priests o murder on the way to Shechem;
Surely they commit p lewdness.
10
I have seen a horrible thing in the house of Israel:
There is the 6 harlotry of Ephraim;
Israel is defiled.
11
Also, O Judah, a harvest is appointed for you,
When I return the captives of My people.