| New International Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 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. | 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 revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may 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 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." | 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 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. | 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 you in pieces with my prophets, I killed you with the words of my mouth-- then my judgments go forth like the sun. | 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 I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings. | 6For I desire loyalty and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. |
| 7As at Adam, they have broken the covenant; they were unfaithful to me there. | 7But they, like Adam, have violated the covenant; there they have betrayed Me. |
| 8Gilead is a city of evildoers, stained with footprints of blood. | 8Gilead is a city of evildoers, tracked with bloody footprints. |
| 9As marauders lie in ambush for a victim, so do bands of priests; they murder on the road to Shechem, carrying out their wicked schemes. | 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 thing in Israel: There Ephraim is given to prostitution, Israel is defiled. | 10I have seen something horrible in the house of Israel: Ephraim's promiscuity is there; Israel is defiled. |
| 11"Also for you, Judah, a harvest is appointed. "Whenever I would restore the fortunes of my people, | 11A harvest is also appointed for you, Judah. When I return My people from captivity, |
| New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. | Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. |
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