Israel and Judah Are Unrepentant

1“Come, let us return to the LORD;

for he has torn us, that he may heal us;

he has struck us down, and he will bind us up.

2After two days he will revive us;

on the third day he will raise us up,

that we may live before him.

3Let us know; let us press on to know the LORD;

his going out is sure as the dawn;

he will come to us as the showers,

as the spring rains that water the earth.”

4What shall I do with you, O Ephraim?

What shall I do with you, O Judah?

Your love is like a morning cloud,

like the dew that goes early away.

5Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets;

I have slain them by the words of my mouth,

and my judgement goes forth as the light.

6For I desire steadfast love6:6 Septuagint mercy and not sacrifice,

the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

7But like Adam they transgressed the covenant;

there they dealt faithlessly with me.

8Gilead is a city of evildoers,

tracked with blood.

9As robbers lie in wait for a man,

so the priests band together;

they murder on the way to Shechem;

they commit villainy.

10In the house of Israel I have seen a horrible thing;

Ephraim's whoredom is there; Israel is defiled.

11For you also, O Judah, a harvest is appointed.

When I restore the fortunes of my people,