| International Standard Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1"Come, let us return to the LORD; even though he has torn us, he will heal us. Even though he has wounded us, he will bind our wounds. | 1Come, let us return to the LORD. For He has torn us, and He will heal us; He has wounded us, and He will bind up our wounds. |
| 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. | 2He will revive us after two days, and on the third day He will raise us up so we can 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. | 3Let us strive to know the LORD. His appearance is as sure as the dawn. He will come to us like the rain, like the spring showers that water the land. |
| 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. | 4What am I going to do with you, Ephraim? What am I going to do with you, Judah? Your loyalty is like the morning mist and like the early dew that vanishes. |
| 5Therefore I cut them to pieces by the prophets, killing them by the words from my mouth. The verdict against you shines like a beacon. | 5This is why I have used the prophets to cut them down; I have killed them with the words of My mouth. My judgment strikes like lightning. |
| 6For it is love that I seek, and not sacrifice; knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. | 6For I desire loyalty and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. |
| 7"But like Adam, they broke the covenant; in this they have acted deceitfully against me. | 7But they, like Adam, have violated the covenant; there they have betrayed Me. |
| 8Gilead is a lawless town; it is polluted by bloodshed. | 8Gilead is a city of evildoers, tracked with bloody footprints. |
| 9Like a gang of thieves that stalk a man, priests commit murder along the road to Shechem, committing shameful crimes. | 9Like raiders who wait in ambush for someone, a band of priests murders on the road to Shechem. They commit atrocities. |
| 10I have seen a horrible evil in the house of Israel— Ephraim's promiscuity. Israel is defiled. | 10I have seen something horrible in the house of Israel: Ephraim's promiscuity is there; Israel is defiled. |
| 11"So, Judah, a harvest has been appointed for you when I restore my people from captivity." | 11A harvest is also appointed for you, Judah. When I return My people from captivity, |
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