1 Come and let us return to Jehovah. For He has torn, and He will heal us; He has stricken, and He will bind us up. 2 After two days He will bring us to life; in the third day He will raise us up, and we shall live in His sight. 3 Then we shall know, if we follow on to know Jehovah. His going out is prepared as the morning; and He shall come to us as the rain, as 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 goodness is like a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goes away. 5 So I have cut them down by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of My mouth. And your judgments were as the light that goes forth. 6 For I desired mercy and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
7 But, like Adam, they have broken the covenant. They have acted like traitors against Me there. 8 Gilead is a city of trouble-makers, slippery with blood marks. 9 And as troops of robbers wait for a man, the company of priests murder in the way of Shechem; for they committed wickedness. 10 I have seen a horrible thing in the house of Israel; the harlotry of Ephraim is there; Israel is defiled. 11 Also, O Judah, a harvest is appointed to you, when I return the captivity of My people.