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