1 "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.
2 After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence.
3 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."
4 "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.
5 Therefore I cut you in pieces with my prophets, I killed you with the words of my mouth — then my judgments go forth like the sun. [^1]
6 For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.
7 As at Adam, "they have broken the covenant; they were unfaithful to me there.
8 Gilead is a city of evildoers, stained with footprints of blood.
9 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.
10 I have seen a horrible thing in Israel: There Ephraim is given to prostitution, Israel is defiled.
11 "Also for you, Judah, a harvest is appointed. "Whenever I would restore the fortunes of my people,