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.

2After two days he will revive us;

on the third day he will restore us,

that we may 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.”

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.

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. ^a

6For I desire mercy, not sacrifice,

and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.

7As at Adam, ^b they have broken the covenant;

they were unfaithful to me there.

8Gilead is a city of evildoers,

stained with footprints of blood.

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.

10I have seen a horrible thing in Israel:

There Ephraim is given to prostitution,

Israel is defiled.

11“Also for you, Judah,

a harvest is appointed.

“Whenever I would restore the fortunes of my people,