Let us return
Come, let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence. Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.
Come, let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds.
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 he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence.
After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.
Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.
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.
Mercy, not sacrifice
What can I do with you, Ephraim? What can I do with you, Judah? Your love is like the morning mist, like the early dew that disappears. Therefore I cut you in pieces with my prophets, I killed you with the words of my mouth — then my judgements go forth like the sun. For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgement of God rather than burnt offerings. As at Adam, they have broken the covenant; they were unfaithful to me there. Gilead is a city of evildoers, stained with footprints of blood. As marauders lie in ambush for a victim, so do bands of priests; they murder on the road to Shechem, carrying out their wicked schemes. I have seen a horrible thing in Israel: There Ephraim is given to prostitution and Israel is defiled. Also for you, Judah, a harvest is appointed, whenever I would restore the fortunes of my people.
What can I do with you, Ephraim? What can I do with you, Judah? Your love is like the morning mist, like the early dew that disappears.
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 I cut you in pieces with my prophets, I killed you with the words of my mouth — then my judgements go forth like the sun.
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 desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgement of God rather than burnt offerings.
For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
As at Adam, they have broken the covenant; they were unfaithful to me there.
But they like men have transgressed the covenant: there have they dealt treacherously against me.
Gilead is a city of evildoers, stained with footprints of blood.
Gilead is a city of them that work iniquity, and is polluted with blood.
As marauders lie in ambush for a victim, so do bands of priests; they murder on the road to Shechem, carrying out their wicked schemes.
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 a horrible thing in Israel: There Ephraim is given to prostitution and Israel is defiled.
I have seen an horrible thing in the house of Israel: there is the whoredom of Ephraim, Israel is defiled.
Also for you, Judah, a harvest is appointed, whenever I would restore the fortunes of my people.
Also, O Judah, he hath set an harvest for thee, when I returned the captivity of my people.