A Call to Repentance

1‘Come, let us return to the LORD;

for it is he who has torn, and he will heal us;

he has struck 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 appearing is as sure as the dawn;

he will come to us like the showers,

like the spring rains that water the earth.’

Impenitence of Israel and Judah

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 away early.

5Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets,

I have killed them by the words of my mouth,

and my6.5 Gk Syr: Heb your judgement goes forth as the light.

6For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice,

the knowledge of God rather than burnt-offerings.

7But at6.7 Cn: Heb 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 wait6.9 Cn: Meaning of Heb uncertain for someone,

so the priests are banded together;6.9 Syr: Heb are a company

they murder on the road to Shechem,

they commit a monstrous crime.

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 would restore the fortunes of my people,