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.”*

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 myb judgment goes forth as the light.*

6For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice,

the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.*

7But atc Adam they transgressed the covenant;

there they dealt faithlessly with me.

8Gilead is a city of evildoers,

tracked with blood.

9As robbers lie in waitd for someone,

so the priests are banded together;e

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 prostitution is there; Israel is defiled.*

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

When I would restore the fortunes of my people,*