1Come, and let us return unto the LORD; for He hath torn, and He will heal us; He hath smitten, and He will bind us up. 2After two days will He revive us; in the third day He will raise us up, and we shall live in His sight. 3Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD; His going forth is prepared as the morning; and He shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth. 4O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? For your goodness is like {as} a morning cloud, and like {as} the early dew it goeth away. 5Therefore have I hewed them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of My mouth; and Thy judgments are as the light that goeth forth. 6For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

7But they, like men, have transgressed the covenant; there have they dealt treacherously against Me. 8Gilead is a city of those who work iniquity, and is polluted with blood. 9And as troops of robbers wait for a man, so the company of priests murder in the way by consent; for they commit lewdness. 10I have seen an horrible thing in the house of Israel; there is the harlotry of Ephraim, Israel is defiled. 11Also, O Judah, He hath set an harvest for thee, when I returned the captivity of My people.