A Call for Israel to Repent

1“Come, let us return to the LORD;

even though he has torn us,a

he will heal us.

Even though he has wounded us,

he will bind our wounds.b

2After two days, he will restore us to life,

on the third day he will raise us up,

and we will live in his presence.

3Let us know,

let us pursue knowledge of the LORD;

his coming is as certain as the dawn.

He will come to us like the rain,

like the autumn and spring rains come on the earth.

4“What am I to do with you, Ephraim?

What am I to do with you, Judah?

Your love is like a morning rain cloud—

it passes away like the morning dew.

5Therefore I cut themc to pieces by the prophets,

killing them by the words from my mouth.

The verdict against you shines like a beacon.

6For it is love that I seek,

and not sacrifice;

knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

7“But like Adam,d they broke the covenant;

in this they have acted deceitfully against me.

8Gilead is a lawless town;

it is polluted by bloodshed.

9Like a gang of thieves that stalk a man,

priests commit murder along the road to Shechem,

committing shameful crimes.

10I have seen a horrible evil in the house of Israel—

Ephraim’s promiscuity.

Israel is defiled.

11“So, Judah, a harvest has been appointed for you

when I restore my people from captivity.”