1Come, 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.
2After two days will he revive us: in the
third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in
his sight.
3Then 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.
4O 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.
5Therefore 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.
6For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and
the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
7But they like men have transgressed the
covenant: there have they dealt treacherously
against me.
8Gilead is a
city of them that work iniquity, and
is polluted with blood.
9And as troops of robbers wait for a man, so the
company of priests murder in the way by consent: for
they commit lewdness.
10I have seen an horrible thing in the house
of Israel: there is the
whoredom of Ephraim, Israel is defiled.
11Also, O Judah, he hath set an harvest for
thee, when I returned the captivity of my people.