1¶ Come, and let us return unto the Lord ; for he has torn, and he will heal us; he has smitten, and he will bind us up.
2After two days he shall give us life: in the third day he will resurrect us, and we shall live in his sight.
3And we shall know and follow on in knowing the Lord ; his going forth is prepared as the dawn; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.
4¶ O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? Your mercy is as a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goes away.
5Therefore I have hewed them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth: that thy righteousness be as the light that goes forth.
6For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
7But they have transposed the covenant as of men: there they have rebelled against me.
8Gilead is a city of those that work iniquity and is polluted with blood.
9And as troops of robbers wait for a man, so the council of priests murder in the way by common accord; for they put the abomination into effect.
10I saw uncleanness in the house of Israel: there Ephraim played the harlot, Israel defiled herself.
11Also, Judah placed a plant in thee when I had turned the captivity of my people.