1Come, let us return to the LORD. He has torn us, and he will heal us. He has struck us, and he will bind up our wounds.
2After two days he will revive us. On the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.
3Then we shall know, if we keep on to know the LORD. His coming is as sure as the morning. He will come to us like the rain, like the spring and autumn rain that waters the earth.
4Ephraim, what shall I do with you? Judah, what shall I do with you? For your goodness is like a morning cloud, like the early dew that goes away.
5So I have cut them down by the prophets. I have killed them by the words of my mouth. And your judgments go out like the light.
6For I wanted mercy, and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
7But like men they have broken the covenant. There they dealt treacherously against me.
8Gilead is a city of those who do evil, and it is stained with blood.
9As bands of robbers lie in wait for a man, so the company of priests murder on the road by agreement. They commit shameful deeds.
10I have seen a horrible thing in the house of Israel. There is the whoredom of Ephraim; Israel is defiled.
11Also, Judah, he has set a harvest for you, when I brought back my people from captivity.