1 “Come, and let us return to Jehovah! For he hath torn, and he will heal us; He hath smitten, and he will bind us up.
2 After two days will he revive us, On the third day he will raise us up, And we shall live in his presence,
3 Let us, therefore, know him; Let us ever strive to know Jehovah, His coming forth is sure as the morning; He will come to us like the rain, Like the latter rain which watereth the earth.”
4 O Ephraim, what shall I do to thee? O Judah, what shall I do to thee? For your goodness is like the morning cloud, And like the early dew, which vanisheth away.
5 Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets, I have slain them by the words of my mouth, And my judgments have gone forth like the light.
6 For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice, And the knowledge of God rather than burnt-offerings.
7 But they, after the manner of men, have transgressed the covenant; Even therein have they dealt unfaithfully with me.
8 Gilead is a city of them that do iniquity; She is full of footsteps of blood.
9 As troops of robbers lying in wait for a man, so is the company of priests; They murder in the way to Shechem; Yea, they commit heinous wickedness.
10 I have seen a horrible thing in the house of Israel; There Ephraim committeth fornication, Israel is polluted.
11 For thee also, O Judah, a harvest is appointed.